Editor's Review

Kimani Ichungwah: Yes I will testify on this and the attempts to coerce me to sanitize what was outright theft through Parliamentary approval. I declined and glad that I stood firm against them all.

Kikuyu Member of Parliament Kimani Ichungwah has announced that he will testify in blogger Dennis Itumbi’s private prosecution case against Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’I over the Ruaraka land saga.

In a tweet, Ichungwah noted that during his time as chair of Budget Committee in Parliament, there had been attempts coerce him to “sanitize outright theft” but he declined.

“Yes I will testify on this and the attempts to coerce me to sanitize what was outright theft through Parliamentary approval. I declined and glad that I stood firm against them all,” he tweeted.


Itumbi sues Matiang'i

Last week, Itumbi moved to court requesting for an approval to conduct a private criminal prosecution against Dr. Matiangi over the Sh1.5bn Ruaraka land deal.

In his petition, Itumbi argued that the public prosecutor has been unwilling to prosecute CS Matiang’I thus the decision to seek private criminal prosecution.

“Demonstrable grounds exist for believing that a grave social evil is being allowed to flourish unchecked because of the inaction of a pusillanimous Director of Public Prosecution and Office of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission who are guilty of a capricious, corrupt or biased failure to prosecute the 1st Respondent,” his petition read in part.

Itumbi wants CS Matiangi charged for abuse of office, financial misconduct, willful failure to comply with the law on management of public funds, and conspiracy to defraud the government during his tenure as Cabinet Secretary in charge of Education.

According to Itumbi, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko also agreed to testify for the petitioner.

“Nairobi Governor @MikeSonko has agreed to be a witness against @FredMatiangi in the Private Prosecution case that is now filed at the Anti-Corruption Court. He says records at City Hall show the land is Public Land. Interesting Fact, even after illegally paying for it, Title bado!” Itumbi tweeted.