The Court of Appeal delivered a heavy blow to Dr. Kidero after rejecting his efforts to keep his financial dealings under wraps. The ruling on Monday, by Judges Daniel Musinga, Asike Makhandia, and Sankale ole Kantai, sealed the fate of Kidero’s case, stating that the matters at hand had already been laid to rest by the Supreme Court back in February 2019.
The case revolves around accusations dating back to Dr. Kidero’s days as the Managing Director of Mumias Sugar Company (2003–2012) and later during his time as Nairobi’s top county boss. EACC wants to dig into everything, from his alleged millions stashed across multiple bank accounts to his mysterious real estate acquisitions.
In his defense, Kidero argued that EACC was going beyond its powers. His lawyer, Ochieng Oduol, stressed that any move to snoop into someone’s bank records should have been done with constitutional care. Yet, the court didn’t buy it.
The appellate court wasn’t convinced, either. They slammed the door shut, stating that the Supreme Court had already covered these points in another ruling. “No legs to stand on,” was the clear message.
EACC got the green light to dig into a treasure trove of financial details, from account-opening documents to deposit slips and wire transfers. This investigation is set to shine a spotlight on Kidero’s time at the helm of Mumias and Nairobi County.
Dr. Kidero’s legal team argued the probe was sneaky, conducted without his knowledge. They claimed this was a breach of protocol, as the High Court had previously ruled in 2018 that investigators shouldn’t get free reign without exhausting constitutional safeguards.
But according to EACC, through their senior counsel Fred Ngatia, there was no foul play. The warrants were legit, and investigators had enough of a basis to dig through the accounts.
The top court’s previous stance? Sometimes, authorities need to act fast, especially when stakes are high, and in those cases, giving advance notice isn’t always on the cards.
Now, with the probe in full swing, all eyes are on Kidero’s accounts as the hunt for truth about the alleged millions intensifies.
