Judge disqualifies himself from Ruto’s case

Written By:Nancy Akinyi/Lempaa Suyianka   , Posted: Tue, Apr 22, 2008

Justice Joseph Nyamu disqualified himself Tuesday from a case in which Agriculture Minister William Ruto, Baringo Central MP Sammy Mwaita and former President Moi’s Personal aide Joshua Kulei want a multi million shillings theft trial against them terminated.

Justice Nyamu said he opted to disqualify himself for personal reasons.

This leaves justices Roselyne Wendo and George Dulu on the bench.

The three are among eight other people accused of selling government land to Kenya Pipeline Company in 2001.

At the same time appellate court judges Philip Waki and Philip Tunoi have disqualified themselves from hearing a case in which Charterhouse bank is opposed to the extension of the tenure of the banks statutory manager Rose Detho.

Meanwhile, former lands Permanent Secretary Josiah Sang and former Lands Commissioner Wilson Gachanja were Tuesday charged with abuse of office.

The two denied the charges involving a 60 million shilling land transfer.

They were released on bonds of 5 million shillings and a cash bail of 1 million shillings each.

It is alleged that on July 10 1995 at the ministry of lands office, the duo directed an assistant commissioner Phoebe Amiani to issue three land title deeds to Kericho Rural Multipurpose Cooperative society for government land located in Mau Forest.

The act is said to have been prejudicial to the rights of Nyayo Tea Zones Development Authority that had been mandated to utilize the land for tea crop cultivation.

Also along the corridors of justice, Patrick Wesonga denied breaking into an exhibition along Moi Avenue and stealing goods valued at over 3 million shillings.

He was released on a cash bail of 200 thousand shillings until May 30 when his case will be heard.