The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji on Monday withdrew charges against eight individuals mentioned in the National Youth Service (NYS) scandal due to lack of evidence.
Charges against Clara Mbau, Christopher Malala, Josephat Njoroge, Rodgers Nzioka, Lucas Otieno, Sammy Michuki, Simon Kiiru, and Stephen Muchai were withdrawn under Section 87A of the Criminal Procedure Code.
This implies that should the police find any more evidence implicating them, they might be charged afresh.
Four of them will be used by the prosecution to testify against their former co-accused as state witnesses.
The DPP also revised the charge sheet, changing the loss of funds caused by the suspects from Ksh468 million to Ksh8 billion.
The trial against former Youth Affairs PS Lilian Omollo and 36 other suspects kicked off on Monday 29 even as four others remain on the run.
Charles Makau Mulandi, a former member of the Verification Committee at NYS, Samuel Otieno, described as an invoicer at NYS, Patrick Obunya, a former staff, and Humphrey Odhiambo are still at large.
The charges range from conspiracy to commit economic crimes, abuse of office and willful failure to comply with applicable procedures relating to the management of public funds.
Haji has prepared more than 40 witnesses and will present evidence orally, electronically and in hard copy.
His office tweeted that, "Through video clips, flip charts, and infographics, the DPP will demonstrate how the accused colluded and facilitated payment of Sh225M to fictitious entities."
