The hearing of the Sh 40 Million fraud case against Embakasi North MP James Gakuya failed to kick off due to his illness.
The hearing was set to begin on Wednesday before Magistrate Zipporah Gichana but Gakuya’s lawyer Danstan Omari informed court that his client was unwell so was unable to attend court.
The court had set the hearing to start from today all through to Friday for three consecutive dates but they were taken out due to Gakuya’s illness.
The court set new dates in September when the matter which had already begun hearings will be resume.
The case was initially being heard by Chief Magistrate Elizabeth Juma but was reallocated to another court after she was transferred from Nairobi.
Gakuya was charged in 2018 alongside Cleophas Omariba Oyaro (district accountant), Leah Waithera Guchu (fund account manager) and Constituency Development Fund (CDF) chairman Richard Mwangi Chuchu.
They are facing four counts which include conflict of interest for allegedly awarding tenders for road construction to companies linked to him.
It was alleged that Gakuya and his co-accused misappropriated CDF funds in the award of tenders for the construction of the roads.
According to the charge sheet, Gakuya and the CDF officials fraudulently acquired public property, conflict of interest, conspiracy to defraud and willful failure to adhere to procurement and disposal laws.
It is also claimed that companies associated to the legislator were awarded tenders worth Sh40 million and paid through bank accounts to which the MP was a signatory.
The case will be heard on September 23,24,25,and 26.
