Suspended Bomas of Kenya Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Gitaa Koria has been acquitted after the court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the case against him.
The court found no evidence of malice in the procurement process, affirming that it was conducted lawfully. As a result, Koria was cleared of all allegations.
Koria had been facing charges related to procurement irregularities amounting to 8.6 million shillings. The prosecution accused him of improperly awarding public tenders for kitchen supplies, including utensils, plates, cups, and cutlery. The tenders in question—Quotation No. 15 (Kitchen Items), Quotation No. 16 (Utensils), Quotation No. 17 (Kitchen Items), Quotation No. 18 (Plates & Cups), and Quotation No. 19 (Cutlery & Other Items)—were alleged to have been excluded from the Bomas of Kenya’s Budget and Procurement Plan for the 2020/2021 financial year.
However, the court determined that there was a budget in place and that the procurement followed the correct procedures. Witness testimonies confirmed that the items were accounted for within the budget, dismissing claims of irregularity.
In its ruling, the court stated that the evidence did not link Koria to any wrongdoing. It further concluded that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against him on all seven counts.
Koria was suspended from office following his arraignment over the alleged procurement violations. With his acquittal, it remains to be seen whether he will be reinstated to his position.
