Kenya lawyers query dropping of major corruption cases

Kenya’s law society has condemned the country’s public prosecutor for withdrawing corruption cases against high-profile individuals, including a cabinet nominee.

Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Eric Theuri on Thursday called on the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji to publicly reveal the reasons behind the successive withdrawal of high-profile cases.

“We are… alarmed by the recent decisions by the DPP as they point to either two disturbing scenarios; that the prosecutions were mounted for the ulterior purpose whose end has been achieved or overtaken by events, or that the DPP has withdrawn the cases to aid an ulterior motive,” Mr Theuri said.

The LSK has threatened to pursue legal action against Mr Haji “so as to avert the abuse of the prosecutorial powers donated to Mr Haji by Kenyans through the constitution”.

Opposition legislators have also questioned why the withdrawal of cases came a few days before the commencement of the vetting of cabinet nominees by parliament next week.

On Wednesday, the prosecutor said he was dropping a $157,000 (£140,000) corruption case against the nominated minister for public service, Aisha Jumwa. Another $3.3m corruption case against a former managing director of state utility firm Kenya Power was also dropped.

All had denied the allegations against them.