Director Of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji on Thursday, February 9, revealed that his office was yet to decide on whether to charge former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i over the Ksh1.5 billion Ruaraka land scandal.
DPP Haji explained that his office was waiting for crucial leads and investigation to decide on whether to prosecute the former CS or not.
The final part of the investigation included tracking financial records and audits to establish if Matiang'i was implicated in the Ruaraka land scandal.
"For a long time, the media has been asking of the Ruaraka land. Once the file is ready, we will make the decision, and we will inform the public," he stated.
"We are awaiting the finalisation of the financial investigations. Once that is ready is complete, we will make an appropriate decision," Haji insisted.
Matiang'i was roped into the scandal while serving as Education Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) indicated that Matiang’i and Kipsang ignored the recommendations of the quality assurance and standards assessment team, which established that the land on which Ruaraka High school stands is public.
"That in a blatant disregard of the report… Dr. Fred Matiang’i put forth a formal request pursuant to Section 107(1) of the Land Act in a letter dated 17th March 2017," EACC stated.
"The Cabinet Secretary formally requested the applicant to commence the process leading to the acquisition of the schools’ land on the pretext that it was private land," EACC documents added.
It was established that a businessman was paid Ksh1.5 billion for the land, which the parliament found was ceded to the state decades ago.
Two public schools, Drive Inn Primary and Ruaraka High school, are situated on the land.
Besides the Ruaraka land scandal, DPP Haji stated that he was not aware of any other charges levelled against the former Interior CS.
"In regards to other investigations, that question will have to be addressed to the investigating authority. No one is above the law; anyone can be investigated," Haji stated.
The sentiments came after Matiang'i obtained anticipatory bail to block arrests. Through his legal team, Matiang'i indicated that the government had forged a ploy to apprehend him and other figures who served in former President Uhuru Kenyatta's regime.
However, the Director of Criminal Investigations, Amin Ibrahim, countered his accusations and the night raid saga, stating that it was staged-managed.
