KRA Investigates Evans Kidero over Sh423 Million Wired to His Bank Accounts by 'Friends'

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has launched a probe into millions of shillings wired to former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero's bank accounts.

The Sh423 million deposited into accounts registered under the name of Kidero is also the subject of investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Daily Nation reports.

In court documents, Kidero says the monies are donations from friends and supporters who backed his bid for Nairobi gubernatorial seat ahead of the 2013 general election.

“He admitted having received several contributions from friends, supporters and well-wishers to the tune of Sh423 million. This, he said, was the subject of an arbitration before the Kenya Revenue Authority,” says High Court Justice Hedwig Ong’udi.

Justice Hedwig said this while delivering a verdict in a case where Kidero was seeking to block EACC from searching and seizing his property. In his ruling, the judge directed the anti-graft agency to release some of the property not connected to the matter under investigation.

Kidero accuses EACC of over-valuing his assets and listing properties belonging to other persons under his name.

He says that properties including Yala Towers in Nairobi’s city centre, 50 residential houses in Kilimani Estate, a mansion in Lavington, seven apartments, a town house in Kisumu and eight high-end cars don't belong to him as EACC claims.

Kidero admits to owning 60 of the 75 assets EACC lists as his, while the other 15 belong to other persons including his wife. He denies that the property portfolio is worth Sh9 billion as the agency claims, noting that its value is around 563 million.