Acquitted Fridah Shiroya to quit Nock treasurer post

The prosecution on Tuesday dropped all charges facing National Olympics Committee-Kenya (Nock) treasurer, Fridah Shiroya in relation to the mistreatment of Team Kenya athletes at the Rio 2016 Olympics, abuse of office and theft of kit.

Shiroya, who was represented by lawyer Braimoh Mburu, is in line to be paraded as a State witness in the case against her fellow officials, will also have the Ksh200, 000 (USD2000) cash bail she posted refunded alongside the lifting of terms and conditions set by the court that included reporting to police once a week and keeping away from her office.

“I’m happy to have been cleared because what come out clearly is that I do not own a shop that sells Nike uniforms. It was a malicious allegation and I don’t think it was right because I don’t own a shop.

“It is a good time for those friends who have been praying for me, know who I am and believed in me. I’m glad my case has ended and I thank God for everything since now I can rest at ease,” the smiling Shiroya said after she was acquitted.

She then announced she was not interested in holding on her position as Nock treasurer opting instead to concentrate on her role as the national chairperson of the Kenya Softball Federation.

“We have until December to hold our elections. I had declared  I was not interested in vying for any position and my seat has been vacant since last year. I will retire from Nock but continue in Softball where I’m still president,” Shiroya added.

“I urge them to hold transparent and fair elections with the youth of the country in mind.  Whomever will succeed me should also be as transparent as I was,” the long-serving Treasurer advised.

“My client was not involved in any offense committed and that is why all charges were dropped,” her lawyer told Citizen Digital.

During the last mention of the case, the prosecution indicated that she has been cooperative during the entire investigation and stated the intention to treat her as a witness against colleagues, First Vice-Chairman Pius Ochieng, Secretary General, Francis Kinyili Paul and Head of Mission Stephen arap Soi.

Ochieng, Paul and Soi will now take their pleas on Wednesday at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi where Shiroya earned her freedom.