Deflated War On Graft? Questions After DPP Drops High Profile Tax, Corruption Cases

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct, 13 – The Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji is in the eye of the storm after Kenyans raised eyebrows on why high-profile corruption and tax cases were ‘suddenly’ dropped.

Notable politicians including former Samburu Governor Joseph Lenolkulal, and Public Service and Gender CS Nominee Aisha Jumwa saw their cases dropped over lack of evidence.

A week ago, Agriculture CS nominee Mithika Linturi also saw his attempted rape case dropped.

The court was informed that Linturi and the victim agreed on an out-of-court settlement. The ODPP said that it received an affidavit sworn by the woman in question, signed on September,1,2022 expressing her intention to withdraw the case.

Kenyans however continue to raise more questions on the timing of the decisions, particularly with the National Assembly set to vet the CS nominees.

A panel has already been set up and will proceed with the vetting exercise this coming Monday.

Also, Former Kenya Power Managing Director Ben Chumo saw corruption charges leveled against him dropped alongside 10 others, among them his successor Ken Tarus.

They were being investigated over the procurement of ‘faulty’ transformers worth Sh400 million. They were charged back n 2018.

Businessmen Joseph Karanja also counted himself lucky after a Sh14 Billion tax dispute case was dropped. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) accused them of failing to honor their tax obligations.

Political newcomer and veteran businessperson, Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja will however still stand trial.

Haji is yet fully give reasons why the decisions were agreed upon with critics saying their war on graft appears to be deflated.

Politicians during the campaign season accused the previous regime of using the criminal justice system to muzzle dissent and settle political scores.

The ODPP meanwhile in the past accused their counterparts the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) of filing ’weak’ cases in court. This led to a fallout between Haji and former DCI boss George Kinoti who has since been redeployed to the public service commission.