Their arrests were dramatic. Their court appearances dominated news headlines for a while and were presented as a turning point in the fight against corruption.
But as weeks turned into months, and months into years, many of the cases faded from public memory. Many accused persons have since walked free after lengthy trials, raising questions about the quality of investigations and prosecutions, even as courts insist that acquittals reflect the evidence presented before them.
The saying that justice grinds slowly is reflected in a number of high-profile corruption cases that were rushed to court amid intense public scrutiny but have taken years to conclude.
Among the most prominent cases are those involving former governors Okoth Obado (Migori), Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia), Dr Evans Kidero and Mike Sonko (Nairobi), former Lands minister Amos Kimunya and former senior officials of the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC).
Sunrise Center in Migori town is among properties recovered by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission from former Migori governor Okoth Obado's proxy Jared Kwaga.
Photo credit: Steve Otieno | Nation Media Group
While some cases have ended in acquittals, others remain active in court, with prosecutors maintaining they still have sufficient evidence to secure convictions.
Obado, his children and the Sh73.5 million case
Former Migori governor Okoth Obado was recently acquitted in a Sh73.5 million graft case after a plea bargain agreement reached between the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the accused persons.
The agreement, approved by the court despite opposition from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), resulted in the recovery of assets valued at about Sh235.6 million and two high-end vehicles — more than three times the amount allegedly lost.
“The value of the properties and the two high-end vehicles is three times the amount (Sh73.5 million) which he, his children and 12 others had been accused of obtaining fraudulently,” the trial magistrate observed.
In adopting the agreement, the court said it complied with Sections 137A–O of the Criminal Procedure Code, which allow negotiated settlements in criminal cases.
Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado surrendered this Sh235m apartment in Greenspan, Nairobi as part of a plea bargain agreement with the Director of Public Prosecution in a corruption case in which he was acquitted.
“Wherefore this court adopts the plea bargain agreement as a judgment of this court. It follows that all the charges are deemed withdrawn against all the 18 accused persons,” the magistrate ruled.
Under the settlement, the accused surrendered commercial buildings, apartments, maisonettes, parcels of land and two Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles.
Rejecting EACC’s objections, the court noted that the anti-graft agency had participated in the negotiations that led to the agreement.
“Ultimately, this Court concludes that the Plea Agreement has surmounted the substantive legality test... and in particular, the agreement has surmounted the triple conditions test of public interest, interests of administration of justice and the need to avoid abuse of the legal process,” the court said.
Former Kenya Power officials acquitted
In April 2026, former senior KPLC officials were acquitted of conspiracy and economic crime charges linked to the procurement of transformers worth Sh159 million in 2017.
The accused included Harun Karisa, Dr Noah Ogano, Daniel Ochieng, John Mwaura, James Muriuki and others. They had been arrested and charged in July 2018 alongside former managing director Ken Tarus, who had earlier been acquitted.
The prosecution alleged that irregularities occurred during the pre-qualification process, including claims that some approved companies belonged to KPLC employees and that several firms shared postal addresses.
However, the court found that prosecutors had failed to establish the key ingredient of conspiracy — proof of an agreement to commit an unlawful act.
“Accordingly, the charge under Count I is dismissed and the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th Accused Persons are acquitted therefrom under section 215 of the CPC,” the court ruled.
Ojaamong’s seven-year battle
Former Busia governor Sospeter Ojaamong and eight co-accused spent seven years defending themselves against corruption charges before they were acquitted in July last year. The ODPP has since appealed the decision.
They were charged in July 2018 and the suspects included Bernard Yaite, Allan Ekweny, Samuel Ombui, Leonard Wanda and Edna Adhiambo.
Then Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong at the Milimani Law Courts in February 2020.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
The prosecution alleged that while in Berlin, Germany, on April 7, 2014, they unlawfully entered into a memorandum of understanding with Madam R Company for a feasibility study on an integrated solid waste management project that had not been budgeted for by Busia County.
After hearing 20 prosecution witnesses, the court put the accused on their defence. At the end of the trial, however, it found the evidence insufficient.
“I am not persuaded that the conviction was viable. I find that the prosecution failed to prove all the charges against the accused persons, and I acquit them accordingly,” the magistrate ruled.
Kimunya cleared after 12 years
Former Lands minister Amos Kimunya was acquitted after a 12-year legal battle over the allocation of a 25-acre parcel of land in Njabini, Nyandarua County.
Following the judgment, Kimunya reflected on the lengthy process.
The former Cabinet minister and Kipipiri MP added: “I have suffered for 12 years because of my belief and drive to better the lives of Kenyans through wealth creation and improving their lives. That is why I begun large potatoes farming in Njambini.”
Kimunya had been charged alongside former Director of Land Adjudication and Settlement Lilian Njenga and Midlands Limited official Jungae Wainaina.
The former minister in late President Mwai Kibaki’s government had earlier been acquitted by the trial court in May 2020 only for the DPP to mount a successful appeal. The High Court later directed that he and his co-accused be placed on their defence before a different magistrate.
Former Lands minister Amos Kimunya in court on May 6, 2026.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation
Prosecutors alleged that in June 2005, while serving as Lands minister, Kimunya improperly facilitated the allocation of a 25-acre parcel excised from land belonging to the Njabini Farmers Training Centre and valued at about Sh60 million. Midlands Limited, where he was a shareholder and chairman, benefited from the allocation.
And after hearing the case, the trial court ruled that the prosecution has failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt against all the accused persons.
“The prosecution has not satisfied this court as to the guilt of the first accused in the three counts filed against him,” the court ruled.
The court also noted that the letter of offer had been signed by Njenga and that no evidence showed she acted under Kimunya’s influence or direction.
Kidero case still on years later
Unlike several other high-profile graft cases, the prosecution against former Nairobi governor Evans Kidero remains active.
Recently, a Nairobi anti-corruption court rejected an application by the DPP to withdraw a Sh58 million corruption case against Kidero and 12 others.
Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero during a past court appearance.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
“Since it has been established by EACC lawyers and their sworn affidavits that there are witnesses available and ready to appear to testify... therefore it's my ruling that the application by DPP to prematurely close the case is misconceived,” the court ruled.
Dr Kidero and his co-accused face charges including conspiracy to commit corruption, abuse of office, unlawful acquisition of public property and money laundering.
He was charged in three separate cases involving alleged losses of Sh357 million, Sh20 million and Sh14 million.
Although Sonko was cleared in the Sh357 million case, he remains before the courts in the other two matters.
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko testifies during the hearing of a graft case against him at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi on February 5, 2026.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
He had initially been acquitted in the Sh20 million case, but the High Court overturned the decision and ordered a retrial, holding that the trial court improperly relied on the original charge sheet after it had been amended.
The charges include money laundering, conflict of interest, fraudulent acquisition of public property and conspiracy to commit corruption.
Anglo Leasing: case revived after acquittal
One of Kenya’s longest-running corruption cases is the Anglo Leasing scandal, which involved contracts allegedly awarded to phantom companies for the supply of security equipment.
Businessmen Deepak and Rashmi Kamani and former permanent secretaries Joseph Magari, Dave Mwangi and David Onyonka were acquitted in January 2024 after a trial court found insufficient evidence linking them to the alleged fraud.
The five had faced charges including conspiracy to defraud, abuse of office, failure to comply with procurement laws and undertaking a project without prior planning. They were accused of participating in a contract with Sound Day Corporation for the supply of security equipment to the Kenya Police.
“In conclude and find that ultimately, there is no evidence of either physical or indeed a meeting of minds on the part of the accused persons and no evidence whatsoever that in the things that they individually did in the process, they were consciously pursuing a common intention,” the court ruled.
However, the High Court overturned the acquittal in July last year following an appeal by DPP Renson Ingonga.
“I do hereby set aside the acquittal by the trial Magistrate on January 19, 2024 and order the accused persons to be put on their defence,” the High Court ruled.
The judge found that evidence from 37 prosecution witnesses showed the security equipment had been contracted for but was never delivered. He also held that there was evidence suggesting the project proceeded despite lacking budgetary allocation.
The court, however, upheld the acquittal on the charge of conspiracy to defraud the government of 40 million euros (about Sh3.5 billion), finding no evidence that the accused had agreed to defraud the state.
