(eTN) – Former Permanent Secretary Rebecca Nabutoola, former Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) CEO Dr. Achieng, and former Maniago Safaris CEO Duncan Muriuki appeared yesterday before the High Court in Milimani, Nairobi, pleading to be granted bail ahead of a formal appeal hearing going underway. All three convicts, through their lawyers, cited a number of issues why their long prison sentences and added heavy financial fines should be overturned.
Joined in the appeals process is Maniago Safaris, which wants its name cleared, as it was never served with a summons to attend trial and hence was not represented by counsel, yet mentioned by the magistrate in her guilty verdict. Maniago’s chances to have its mention struck from the judgment is considered quite high, though observers feel that the three found guilty in the initial hearing my perhaps only hope to have their sentences and fines cut, as there was simply too much evidence produced against them, leading to their convictions.
A financial scam, misappropriation, and misuse of funds and other offenses were, at least according to the trial magistrate, all proven beyond a reasonable doubt, leading to the conviction of the trio several months ago.
The fall of the once high and mighty it seems, as Kenya’s judiciary gets tougher under their newly-defined rights drawn from the country’s new constitution.
