Former Majority Leader and Lands Minister Amos Kimunya has strongly defended himself against allegations of fraudulent disposal of public property, telling a Nairobi court that he acted lawfully and in the public’s best interest.
Taking the stand in his own defense, Kimunya dismissed the case against him as “baseless and unsubstantiated,” insisting that none of the prosecution’s 17 witnesses had credibly linked him to the alleged irregular allocation of 25 acres of public land to Midlands Limited in 2005.
The land, valued at Sh60 million, had been earmarked for the Njabini Agricultural Training Centre in Nyandarua.
“There is no evidence to show what I did that amounts to fraud or how my actions caused any loss,” Kimunya said. “My office did not engage in the transaction. I did not commit any act of fraud or disposal of land.”
He told the court that nine witnesses had affirmed he never contacted or interfered with them regarding the transaction.
Kimunya further explained that the trustee role referenced in the charges was held by the Finance and Agriculture Ministers—not the Lands Minister.
In an attempt to underscore his integrity, Kimunya recounted his past efforts in fighting corruption, noting his work in drafting anti-fraud legislation in 1991, investigating economic crimes in London, and serving on an anti-corruption taskforce appointed by former Attorney General Amos Wako.
“This is a serious fraud charge, yet I have spent a significant part of my career fighting economic crimes,” he said.
Kimunya also defended Midlands Limited, the company at the heart of the allegations, describing it as a farmer-owned public entity from Nyandarua County.
He said the company aimed to add value to local produce and that the land transaction was in line with public development goals.
Kimunya is charged alongside Lilian Wangiri Njenga and Junghae Wainaina, a director of Midlands Ltd.
The prosecution claims the three conspired to unlawfully allocate the agricultural land meant for public training to the company.
Maintaining his innocence, Kimunya urged the court to acquit him, stating that the prosecution had failed to prove any misconduct on his part.
The trial is ongoing.
Written by Were Kelly
