The hearing of a graft case against Garissa Governor Ali Korane has been postponed to July 28 after the first witness to take the stand was stood down.
Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti stood down Victor Ogutu because the defense didn’t have the documents the prosecution is relying on to prosecute the case against the Governor and his co-accused.
“It will not be fair to proceed with the hearing when the defense does not have documents bring referred to by the witness,” said Ogoti.
Korane is alleged to have embezzled a grant of Ksh.233.5 million issued to the county by the World Bank for the Financial Year 2018/2019.
The grant, under the Kenya Urban Support Programme, was to be used to construct Qorahey market, re-carpet Garissa township roads and put up storm water drainage and pedestrian walkways.
Before being stood down Ogutu said he was the program manager at Kenya Urban Support Program.
The project in question was a conditional grant and its purpose was to establish and strengthen urban institution to deliver improved services and infrastructure except for Mombasa and Nairobi towns.
Ogutu says the project was funded by the World Bank.
The court heard that the total grant disbursed was Sh11.4 billion and Garissa was granted Sh233 million.
He also added that 45 counties were to benefit from the program under World Bank.
