DPP WITHDRAWS 1.1b CASE AGAINST FORMER NHIF CEO

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The court has agreed to an application by the DPP to have the Sh1.1 billion graft charges against former NHIF boss Geoffrey Mwangi dropped. The DPP withdrew the graft case opened against Mr. Mwangi citing lack of sufficient evidence to sustain the charges, which stemmed from a tender awarded to online pay company Webtribe Limited. 

The DPP said he decided to withdraw the eight criminal charges, which were based on irregular tendering process, abuse of office and fraud, after considering and review of the charges leveled against Mr. Mwangi.

Former NHIF CEO Geoffrey Mwangi (R) and finance director Wilbert Kurgat

Trial magistrate Victor Wakumile said the ODPP had given sufficient grounds to have Mwangi discharged. At the same time he gave the prosecution 15 days to review the entire file and inform the court on the way forward. The other accused persons include Mr Mwangi’s predecessor at NHIF Simeon Kirgotty and NHIF audit committee members Mudzo Nzili, Yussuf Ibrahim and Elly Nyaim.

Mr Mwangi joins the growing list of former government officials and entrepreneurs arraigned in court during the President Kenyatta’s administration and whose cases have been dropped by the DPP over various reasons such as insufficient evidence.

History

Mwangi was in 2018 charged alongside former CEO Simon Kirgotty, NHIF audit committee members Mudzo Nzili, Yussuf Ibrahim, Elly Nyaim, Danson Muchemi and his company Webtribe with 13 others.

But the DPP withdrew the charges against Muchemi, Webtribe and Robert Muriithi. He turned Muchemi into a state witness.

By Wanjiru Mbaru

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