NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Kipipiri MP and Cabinet Minister Amos Kimunya has been ordered to stand trial over allegations of irregularly allocating public land to a private company, following a Court of Appeal ruling that dismissed his attempt to quash the case.
A three-judge bench—Justices Patrick Kiage, Fatuma Sichale, and Lydia Achode—upheld a previous High Court decision that found sufficient grounds for Kimunya and his co-accused to answer to corruption-related charges.
Also facing trial are Lilian Wangiri Njenga, a former director of land adjudication and settlement, and Junghae Wainaina, a director of Midlands Limited.
The case revolves around a 25-acre parcel of land—Nyandarua/Njabini/5852—that was originally allocated to the Njabini Agricultural Training Centre, a state-owned facility supporting agricultural development.
The land, held under the Settlement Fund Trust (SFT), was allegedly transferred to Midlands Limited, where Kimunya was reportedly a director and shareholder.
The accused face charges including abuse of office, failure to disclose private interest, fraudulent disposal of public property, and breach of trust by a public servant.
Prosecutors argue the transfer was executed without proper approvals and violated due process.
Kimunya and his co-accused were initially acquitted by the Chief Magistrate’s Court, which ruled that the prosecution had not established a prima facie case.
However, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) successfully appealed the decision, leading to the High Court overturning the acquittal and ordering a retrial.
The former minister then moved to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the High Court’s ruling infringed on his right to a fair trial.
But the appellate judges dismissed the argument, emphasizing that the High Court merely found sufficient grounds for trial without making any determination of guilt.
The case is set for mention on April 7, 2025, at the Chief Magistrate’s Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Court, where further proceedings will be outlined.
