Court acquits suspended Bomas of Kenya CEO

Suspended Bomas of Kenya Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Gitaa Koria has been set free after a court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the case against him.

The court determined that there was no malice in the procurement process and that the process was lawful, clearing Koria of any wrongdoing. 

He was acquitted by Milimani anticorruption senior Principal magistrate Celestine Okore

Koria had been facing charges related to procurement irregularities amounting to Sh8.6 million shillings.

 The prosecution side alleged that he engaged in irregularities in awarding public tenders, specifically for kitchen items, utensils, plates, cups, cutlery, and other related items.

The tenders in question—Quotation No. 15 (Kitchen Items), Quotation No. 16 (Utensils), Quotation No. 17 (Kitchen Items), Quotation No. 18 (Plates & Cups), and Quotation No. 19 (Cutlery & Other Items)—were reportedly not included in the Bomas of Kenya's Budget and Procurement Plan for the 2020/2021 financial year. 

Despite these allegations, the court ruled that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to support the claims, leading to Koria’s acquittal.

His suspension from office followed his arraignment over the alleged procurement violations, but with the court's decision, it remains to be seen whether he will be reinstated.

The charges stems from budget...it's prudent to confirm if there was a budget.

It was proved that there was by witnesses. It's clear there was budget and was done procedurally.

Io contended that the items procured were not in the budget...which was dismissed as the accused did his part.

 I find that the evidence does not place the accused in the offence in count 1. Considering the evidence before me, I find that the prosecution did not prove prima facie case against the accused in all seven counts