Former Nairobi Governor Kidero Expected to Declare Nairobi Gubernatorial Candidature after Court Acquits Him of Graft Charges

Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero is expected to soon declare his candidature for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat in the 2027 general elections, following his landmark victory after the courts today, November 6,2025 acquitted him in a Ksh 213 million corruption case. Kidero, the first governor of Nairobi City County- between 2013 to 2017- had been charged alongside several former senior county officials, including Lilian Wanjiru Ndegwa, Jimmy Mutuku Kiamba, and Gregory Mwakanongo, with multiple counts relating to abuse of office, dealing with suspect property, and conspiracy to commit a corruption-related offence. The ruling, delivered on Thursday, marks a major victory for the former county boss who had been facing multiple graft charges alongside several former Nairobi County officials. According to the ruling, the court acquitted Kidero on counts 1 to 17 under Section 210 of the Criminal Procedure Code, citing insufficient evidence presented by the prosecution. However, the court ruled that counts 18 to 35 would proceed, and the accused persons were placed on their defense for those charges. The court’s decision now partially clears Kidero, who has consistently maintained his innocence since the charges were filed. His legal team expressed confidence that he will also be vindicated on the remaining counts once the defense hearing concludes. According to the charge sheet, Kidero was accused of receiving Ksh 14 million on August 29, 2014, and another Ksh 10 million on September 11, 2014, from Lodwar Wholesalers Limited, while serving as Nairobi Governor. The prosecution alleged that he had reason to believe the money had been acquired through corrupt means. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) had accused Kidero and his co-accused of mismanaging county funds and benefiting from irregular payments during his tenure as governor. The magistrates ruled that all the witnesses in the case testified in favour of Kidero and others. Through lawyer Phillip Nyachoti, Kiambaa told the court that the prosecution's alleged loss of Ksh.213 million is merely speculation and that no money was lost. The court was told that the prosecution witnesses approved the legitimacy of the various payments in the charge sheet.