For the first time since the explosive Ruaraka Land saga valued at Sh3.2 billion broke out, the Director of Public Prosecution Noordin Haji made a rather rare confession, revealing the major impediment in prosecuting involved parties.
The DPP, who spoke on a local TV station revealed that his decision to return the case files to the EACC was a way to prop up his case against government officials.
Mr Haji said that he now wants the EACC to include officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) land fraud department in the investigations to help unravel the puzzle.
The case has been dragging on despite parliament summons of Education CS Amb Amina Mohammed and Interior’s Fred Matiang’i.
The DPP is seemingly unconvinced with the evidence already presented before him, said that the case involves very powerful people and that he wants to tie all the loose ends and present a watertight case. He hinted that this, however, might take time, given the involved individuals.
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In unprecedented move, however, he noted that there are very powerful individuals involved meaning that a weak case would risk being thrown out by the Judiciary.
“There is a case, and a strong one. I want it tight so it can stand in court as the accused are powerful and I don’t want to fail or bring a shaky case into which holes can easily be poked,” Haji said.
Earlier, speculations from a section of the media were rife that Education PS Dr Belio Kipsang, NLC Chairman Mohammed Swazuri and former Education CS pocketed millions in the deal. No official record, however, have since been posted.
The DPP’s move came after EACC recommended prosecution of 25 individuals with majority of the suspects coming from the National Land Commission that is headed by Mohammed Swazuri. Mr Swazuri denied any wrongdoing.