NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal has been cleared of corruption and conflict-of-interest charges after the High Court overturned his 2022 conviction and eight-year jail term, citing insufficient evidence.
The ruling comes after the court found that the prosecution failed to prove Lenolkulal had any direct control or benefit from Oryx Service Station, the fuel supplier linked to the alleged Sh83 million county contract irregularities.
Lenolkulal had been accused of using his gubernatorial office to influence fuel supply contracts awarded to Oryx Service Station, which prosecutors claimed was connected to him.
However, the court noted that the station operated under a lease agreement between businessman Hesbon Jack Wachira Ndathi and Lenolkulal, with Ndathi paying Sh70,000 monthly rent.
“The prosecution failed to demonstrate that the appellant exercised control or derived benefit from Oryx Service Station during the contract period,” the High Court judge ruled, emphasizing that suspicion alone is not sufficient for conviction.
The ruling also acquitted Ndathi and former Samburu County Chief Officer Bernard Lesurmat, who had been implicated as Lenolkulal’s alleged proxy.
The court found no evidence that Lesurmat participated in the procurement process or gained personally from the contracts.
While the High Court acknowledged the importance of public officials avoiding conflicts of interest, it stressed that convictions must be grounded in concrete proof of wrongdoing.
Lenolkulal’s acquittal marks a major legal victory for the former county leader, who had been sentenced by the anti-corruption court in 2022 to eight years in prison or a Sh83.4 million fine.
