Nation Media Group
Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua seeks to release his passport from the anti-corruption court so that he may go to Dubai for an official role.
Mr Gachagua has sought the release of travel papers in order to allow him to participate in his legislative duties abroad.
On Friday, his lawyer Gibson Kimani informed Rose Makungu, senior Magistrate of Milimani, that the MP will fly with a parliamentary committee to Dubai
The travel permits were filed in court last month as a requirement for his release from bail until the Sh7 billion graft case he and nine others had been determined.
The magistrate instructed the court to rule on the request on Monday.
The defense counsel told the Court during the virtual mention of the case that the documented material supplied by the investigators was not complete. The lawyers said that numerous pages were missing.
The case was requested to have a pre-trial conference to confirm if the prosecution side provided the defense with all testimonies and documents to allow the case to go to the hearing.
Judge Makungu remarked that since certain pages of documented evidence were not submitted by the investigators, the case will essentially again be discussed on 6 October to confirm the compliance with the disclosure of evidence.
Similarly, the court permitted another accused individual, Lawrence Kimaru, to replace his Sh500,000 cash bail by a comparable amount of bonds.
The judge observed that there was no objection to the application, and that the Court had offered the accused bail the option to deposit cash flows or bonds and guarantees.
Mr. Kimaru's lawyer Eliud Senteu stated that he borrowed from friends and intended to place a security of the same amount to allow his client to return it.
MP Gachagua is facing six accusations of corruption for the acquisition, between 2013 and 2020, of the $S7.3 billion allegedly proceeds of crime through government business transactions.
The allegations include conspiracy to conduct a corruption offence, fraudulent public funds acquisition, a conflict of interest, cash laundering, and the purchase of criminal profits.
Among its eight co-accused are William Wahome Mwangi, Mathira NG-CDF Manager, who is also Chairman of the Tana Water Works Development Agency (TWWDA).
Ann Nduta Ruo, Jullianne Jahenda Makaa, Samuel Murimi Ireri, Grace Wambui Kariuki, Lawrence Kimaru, Irene Wambui Ndigiriri, David Reuben Nyangi Nguru and Rapid Medical Supplies Ltd were among the accused. All of them are on bail.
