Former Nairobi County Chief Finance Officer Jimmy Kiamba (pictured) and three others were yesterday handed a combined 30-year jail term after they were found guilty of defrauding City Hall Sh18 million.

The four former top officials, who served during the tenure of Governor Evans Kidero, were given an option to pay total fines of Sh21.4 million.

This is after Justice Esther Maina overturned the lower court’s decision that acquitted Kiamba, County Secretary Lilian Ndegwa, Senior Secretary Regina Rotich and former head of Treasury Stephen Osiro in 2018 for lack of evidence.

Kiamba and Ndegwa were fined Sh9.6 million each in default to serve 12 years each. Osiro was handed three years or pay a fine or Sh1.2 million and on her side Rotich was fined Sh1 million or serve three years in jail.

While passing the sentence, Justice Maina said the trial magistrate had erred in acquitting them five years ago.  “I hereby order that the convicts appear before Milimani Anti-Corruption Chief Lawrence Mugambi on July 18 for further directions,” Maina ruled.

In her judgment, Maina said the trial magistrate Kennedy Bidali made a legal blunder by acquitting them when there was sufficient evidence by the Prosecution proving that they had committed the economic crimes.