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Tuesday, July 25, 2023 –President William Ruto has pardoned former KEMRI boss Davy Koech who had been jailed over multi-million corruption deals at the drugs agency.
Koech had been jailed for six years in September 2021 for corruptly obtaining sh 19.3 million. He is among the 37 individuals pardoned by President Ruto today Tuesday July 25.
The head of State has also commuted all the death sentences imposed before November 21, 2022 to life imprisonment following recommendations from the Power of Mercy Advisory Committee.
This, head of State’s move to pardon jailed people, has since been gazetted in the July Notice by Attorney General Justin Muturi.
It should be remembered that in September 2022, the High Court had declined to quash the corruption conviction against the KEMRI boss despite efforts by the accused to seek a review of Magistrate Victor Wakumile verdict rendered in September 2021.
The Managing Director had been found guilty of acquiring the sh 19.3 million through corruption hence the six-year sentence.
He would, through his lawyers, describe the ruling as ‘faulty’ and appealed so that to dismiss the sentence.
Kenyans have, however, wondered with the manner in which the head of State issued this directive some saying it was tribalized.
“Of those President Ruto has offered clemency are “Mt. Kenya people” but Davy Koech is the only one whose name is being splashed in all media houses. Also curious there’s not a single ‘O’,” blogger Dikembe Disembe wondered.
But this seems to have been informed by claims from William Ruto-allied leaders that most of the corruption cases filed during Uhuru Kenyatta era were politically motivated.
Among the high-profile cases which were facing those allied to William Ruto and have since been dropped by the office of the Director of Public Prosecution DPP include the sh 200 million corruption case against deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Gender Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa’s murder case was also dropped immediately she was appointed by President William Ruto in Kenya Kwanza government.
