Former Cabinet Minister Chris Okemo and former Kenya Power Managing Director Samuel Gichuru have lost a bid to block their extradition trials at the Milimani lower court.
The petition to the High Court was protesting proceeding which will determine whether they will face trial in the Island of Jersey over a Ksh 900 million fraud.
Justice Isaac Lenaola ruled that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Keriako Tobiko has powers to initiate the extradition proceedings against the two.
The DPP wants Okemo and Gichuru extradited to face charges of money laundering, fraud and misconduct while in public office.
Justice Lenaola further ruled that Jersey Island has laws in place that will ensure the two get a fair trial.
Okemo and Gichuru have for the last three years contested the extradition orders at the High Court.
The two were summoned to the Island of Jersey court on April 20th, 2011 and subsequently on May 5th, 2011 but failed to show up.
They are wanted on 53 counts of money laundering and fraud.
The funds were allegedly paid as commissions to Gichuru and Okemo, who were powerful individuals in former President Daniel Arap Moi’s government.
Okemo was Energy Minister from 1999 to 2001 and Finance Minister from 2001 to 2003, while Gichuru was Kenya Power MD from 1983 to 2003.
In March 2015, Chris Okemo was appointed as a board member of the Kenya Seed Company, a moved termed a mockery of the fight against corruption in Kenya.
Former Ethics and Governance Permanent Secretary John Githongo said that Okemo’s appointment was an insult to “all Kenyans fighting corruption”.
