Court rejects bid to stop trial of City Hall staff in Sh7m case

The High court in Nairobi has declined to stop the prosecution of Nairobi County Government officials who were charged with or being in possession of 7 million shillings.

The officials who moved to court under a certificate of urgency wanted the criminal case against them stopped pending their appeal.

In their argument, the county officials  termed the criminal charge against them as an abuse of court process and as such, infringes on their fundamental rights.

Justice John Mativo has since directed the petitioner’s in the case to serve the respondents in the case.

The accused were busted by Nairobi governor Mike Sonko in August during an impromptu visit to City Hall’s cash office just days after he was sworn in.

The seven officials ought to have deposited the cash by close of business on August 22.

The accused are; Reuben Gachukia, Luke Gatimu, Maurice Ochieng, Nixon Awuor, Shaban Asman, Bedan Wambui and Chrispin Oyiro.

The seven facing abuse serve as; chief cashier, finance officer, head of treasury head of revenue, in-charge of bank reconciliations and assistant cashier respectively.