A senior health officer in Nairobi county who was found soliciting a bribe of Ksh 400,000 has defended himself urging the court to auquit him since the evidence produced had discrepancies.
Appearing before the Milimani Anti-Corruption magistrate Celesa Okore, Daniel Omido, a health administrator officer at Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) told the magistrate that the evidence produced before her is not enough for his conviction,
“Your honour I urge this court to consider the discrepancies in the evidence produced in this court not enough and acquit me, I humbly pray,’ Omido told the magistrate.
First, Omido stated that the evidence of two witnesses on the money he was charged to have solicited differed one saying that the money was in three bunches and the other in two bunches,
“This difference fails to prove this case,” he said.
Further, on the issue of the said money, he added that no forensic report was produced connecting him with the money alleged to be found in his possession,
“Your honour the witness could have examined the said money forensically to prove whether my finger prints appeared on the same,” he defended himself.
He also pointed out that the prosecution failed to produce a video or photos as evidence to prove he had received the money.
About the video that was played during the hearing, he (Omido) stated that there was no statement recorded about the same or that of the person he was alleged have talking to.
Omido was arrested and charged with soliciting bribe from a citizen. The complainant alleged that his company Quality Plus Laboratory and Consultancy Services was awarded a two-year food handlers examination contract by the Nairobi County Government under Nairobi Metropolitan Services from May 2022 to May 2024.
The purpose was to test food handlers in Hotels and eateries before issuance of certificates by the Nairobi county Government Health Department in Dagorreti North, Kasarani and Kamkunji sub-Counties,” the statement read in part.
The Commission conducted an operation and the suspect was arrested at Uchumi House Building after he corruptly received part of the demanded bribe amounting to Ksh 200,000. The Commission recovered the money from the Suspect’s shopping bag.
Daniel Omido, a senior officer at NMS is said to have demanded a bribe of Ksh 400,000 in order to approve online applications relating to testing and issuing certificates to food handlers within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area.
