Henry Rotich Celebrates Outside Court After His Acquittal: "The Devil Has Been Ashamed"

• Former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich said the devil had been permanently ashamed
• Rotich maintained that no amount of lies survived with reference to the accusations against him in the KSh 63 billion Arror and Kimwarer Dam corruption case
• Magistrate Eunice Nyutu criticised the prosecution over the manner in which they handled the case

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - Former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich is relieved after his acquittal in the KSh 63 billion Arror and Kimwarer Dam corruption case.

Addressing journalists moments after the ruling by an anti-corruption court in Nairobi, the former CS stated that he had been vindicated.

Turning to spirituality, the former powerful CS claimed that the plans of the devil had been ashamed permanently.

"You know the famous African languages we have a saying that no poison can do well with no blood. There is no blood spear and there is no way so all amount of lies, poison and everything survive. So I think the devil has been ashamed and will remain permanently ashamed," he said.

Before the brief interview, Rotich asked journalists to give him some time as he took in the moment.

What Magistrate Eunice Nyutu said about the case

In her ruling, the magistrate criticised the prosecution over the manner in which they handled the case.

"All the accused persons in this case are hereby acquitted under section 210 due to lack of evidence as a result of the reckless dereliction of duty by the prosecution," magistrate Nyutu said.

The magistrate blamed the prosecution for leading only eight witnesses out of the 49 witnesses they had intended to call.

"This would appear to be a prosecution-led acquittal," the magistrate stated.

The former CS had been charged alongside Kennedy Nyakundi Nyachiro, Jackson Njau Kinyanjui, David Kipchumba Kimosop, William KiPkemboi Maina, Paul Kipkoech Serem, Francis Chepkonga Kipkech, Titus Murithi, and Geoffrey Mwangi Wahungu.

Instances that made Nyutu criticise prosecution

In November, Rotich asked the anti-corruption court to acquit him, saying the prosecution had failed to prove that money was lost in the financing and development of the Arror and Kimwarer dam projects.

The prosecution had failed to lead the testimonies of 15 witnesses; it had called on the stand to testify against the accused.

For instance, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) failed to question former Agriculture CS Peter Munya about the scandal despite being the published scandal's key witness.

When Magistrate Nyutu forced state prosecutor Oliver Muriethi to lead Munya in testifying, he said he had no questions for the former governor.