“I wish my wife was alive to see justice done to me after being dragged through the legal process for a dozen years, for a non-existent crime,” former Lands minister Amos Kimunya says, sighing in relief, but swearing that he is done with politics.
The political and criminal justice systems, on paper, are realms apart.
But to Dr Kimunya, the two realms collided, and pushed him onto a path that would take 12 years to walk, losing his wife before getting to the end.
The 64-year-old says his involvement with the 25-acre Kipipiri land in 2003 was a move intended to help poor, small-scale potato farmers in Nyandarua County, and alleges that political interests turned it into his prosecution for land grabbing.
Dr Kimunya’s wife, Lucy Muhinga, died on January 30, 2024 as Mr Kimunya was still being tried for allegedly grabbing the land valued at Sh60 million.
Former Lands minister Amos Kimunya in court on May 6, 2026.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation
He maintains that his better half was the main source of moral support and strength as he was twice prosecuted in relation to the land.
“At last, I have been vindicated. I suffered because I helped the poor farmers of Nyandarua earn more from their potato farming. I suffered for 12 years despite doing nothing wrong. I wish my wife was alive to see justice done,” said Dr Kimunya.
The former CS said that his troubles had begun because of his political stance, but he declined to name the government operatives he believes triggered the prosecution. For him, the solution is to swap the political arena for lecture halls.
He believes this new path will have a more direct impact on society as it will offer a chance to help young people shape their futures.
“I do not want to drop names of those behind my persecution and malicious prosecution. But never again shall I go back to politics. I will use my doctorate degree to impact the society more so the youth in a more-better way to shape their destinies,” he added.
“I will spend most of my time in lecture halls now that I am free and vindicated from the shame and blame of the false allegations filed against me,” Dr Kimunya said.
The former Kipipiri MP said that throughout his career, he has worked to improve the lives of Kenyans.
“I have suffered for 12 years because of my belief in and commitment to improving the lives of Kenyans through wealth creation and enhancing their livelihoods. That is why I started the large-scale potato farming project in Njambini,” he stated after the court found him not guilty of grabbing the land.
The late former President Mwai Kibaki.
Photo credit: File| Nation Media Group
Dr Kimunya had been charged alongside a former director Lands Adjudication and Settlement Ministry of Lands Lilian Njenga and a top official of Midlands Limited Jungae Wainaina.
Midlands Ltd is a public company incorporated in 1987, of which Kimunya was chairman and shareholder.
In 2003, he was both a shareholder and chairman of the firm.
Former President Kibaki, in whose Cabinet Dr Kimunya served, was also a shareholder in Midlands, as was the former First Lady, Lucy Kibaki.
Acquitting the trio, the anti-graft court magistrate ruled, “I concur with Senior Counsel Kioko Kilukumi that the prosecution has failed squarely to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt against all the three accused persons.”
Prosecutors alleged that in June 2005, while serving as Lands minister, he used his position to confer a benefit to Midlands Limited by facilitating the allocation of a 25-acre parcel excised from land belonging to the Njabini Farmers Training Centre.
However, in the judgement the court held that the prosecution did not present sufficient evidence to establish that Kimunya fraudulently disposed of the land or improperly influenced its allocation.
“While it was not disputed that Kimunya was a shareholder and director of Midlands Limited, the court found no proof linking him to the issuance of the letter of offer for the land. The prosecution has not satisfied this court as to the guilt of the first accused in the three counts filed against him,” the magistrate ruled.
From left; Former lands Minister Amos Kimunya, Lilian Wangiri Njenga and Junghae Wainaina at the Milimani anti- corruption during the judgment in a revived Sh60 million alleged graft case against them.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation
The court noted that the letter of offer had been signed by Lilian Wangari Njenga, the second accused and former Director of Land Adjudication and Settlement, who had not indicated that she had been influenced by Kimunya or acted at his direction.
In his sworn defence, Kimunya denied issuing any instructions regarding the allocation, and the court found no reason to doubt his testimony.
The magistrate further observed suspicion by investigators, without corroborating evidence, could not form the basis for a criminal conviction.
"There is no evidence that the first accused wrote any instructions to the second accused regarding the issuance of the letter of offer,” the magistrate said.
He added that the burden of proof lay squarely with the prosecution, which presented 17 witnesses in an attempt to establish the case.
On the role played by Ms Njenga, the court ruled that she had not breached trust or abused her office by issuing the letter of offer.
She had told the court that her role was limited to processing applications and that allocation decisions were subject to procedures involving the Settlement Fund Trustees.
She maintained that she would not have signed any documents had she found them to be irregular or unlawful.
Former Majority Leader of the National Assembly Amos Kimunya.
Photo credit: File | Paul Waweru | Nation Media Group
Similarly, the third and fourth accused persons, including a director of Midlands Limited and the company itself, were cleared of charges of fraudulent acquisition of public property.
The magistrate also remarked that evidence presented suggested that Midlands Limited had been established as a public-oriented initiative aimed at benefiting farmers, and the court formed the impression that the company “was born out of a noble idea.”
The magistrate declined to rely statements that were not subjected to full scrutiny in court, noting that any outstanding disputes over the land could be more appropriately addressed through civil proceedings.
The acquittal dismisses the case that initially resulted in Kimunya’s acquittal. This was before the High Court ordered a retrial.
