Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya was on Thursday released after presenting himself at the Nairobi Anti-Corruption Court to testify in the Ksh63 billion Arror and Kimwarer corruption scandal.
The former Meru governor complied with an order issued by Trial Magistrate Eunice Nyutu who had directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to arrest and present Munya in court by 11:15 am.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, a source privy to the matter revealed that Munya took to the docks but the prosecution was not adequately prepared.
Following this development, the prosecution applied for an adjournment seeking more time to build their case and cross examine the former Cabinet Secretary.
However, the judge declined the request and ordered the prosecution to drop Munya as a witness.
The Magistrate further warned the prosecution over their conduct, contending that the failure to produce witnesses in court was tantamount to interfering with the case.
The Judge stressed that all accused persons in the case have a right to a fair trial and the prosecution must prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Although Munya was dropped as a witness, the case was adjourned to September 11, 2023 and the prosecution ordered to produce all witnesses to court on that day.
Before he presented himself in court, the investigating officer in the case, Douglas Chege, told the court that Munya was nowhere to be found. The officer revealed that law enforcement officers had searched for him in his Nairobi and Meru homes.
However, Munya's lawyer refuted the claims that the former CS was hiding, as claimed by the prosecution.
"I order Munya to present himself in court by 11:15 a.m. His warrant of arrest still stands," Magistrate Nyutu ordered.
The Party of National Unity (PNU) leader was expected to testify against former government officials. This was after he, in 2019, claimed that a top Cabinet official pressured him to approve the release of Ksh4 billion for the two dams.
He also claimed that a former PS also pushed him to sign the documents, which he refused after noticing that the government officials had vested interests in the project.
