Kidero is a Free Man: Acquittal Clears Path for 2027 Political ComebackIn a landmark ruling on November 6, 2025, the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court acquitted former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and nine co-accused in a high-profile Sh213 million graft case, marking a major victory for the veteran politician.
Magistrate Victor Wakumile dismissed all 17 counts of corruption, conspiracy to commit fraud, abuse of office, and dealing with suspect property, citing the prosecution’s failure to provide sufficient evidence to sustain the charges.
The case stemmed from alleged irregular payments made between January 2014 and January 2016 during Kidero’s tenure as Nairobi’s first devolved county governor, where funds were purportedly disbursed to two entities for undelivered goods and services, leading to the massive loss at City Hall.
Despite the acquittal, the court noted that one co-accused, the former head of accounting, still had a case to answer based on presented evidence. Kidero, who has maintained his innocence throughout, emerges unburdened, with the ruling effectively closing a protracted legal chapter that had loomed over his public life since 2018.
This clearance comes at a pivotal moment for Kidero, whose political journey has been as dynamic as it is resilient. A trained pharmacist and longtime administrator in Kenya’s health sector—rising to CEO of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority—Kidero entered elective politics in 2013 under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) banner, clinching the Nairobi gubernatorial seat in a bruising contest against Bishop Margaret Wanjiru and later fending off a fierce impeachment bid.
His single term (2013–2017) was marked by efforts to stabilize the capital’s devolved services amid fiscal chaos inherited from the transition from city council to county government, though it was overshadowed by internal party tensions and legal battles, including a bitter fallout with successor Mike Sonko.
Post-Nairobi, Kidero pivoted to his ancestral roots in Homa Bay County, Nyanza region, where he has deep family ties through the Suba community.
In 2021, he declared his intent to run for Homa Bay governor, injecting fresh energy into a crowded field that included aspirants like then-incumbent Cyprian Awiti and Woman Rep Gladys Wanga.
However, ODM’s decision to hand Wanga a direct nomination—framed as a consensus after consultations with other hopefuls—left Kidero sidelined, prompting him to dramatically quit the party in April 2022.
He decried the process as undemocratic, accusing it of prioritizing “six-piece voting patterns” over grassroots interests, and opted to contest as an independent candidate in the August 2022 polls.
Cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) alongside running mate Elijah Kodo, Kidero mounted a vigorous campaign, promising development-focused leadership free from “emotional slavery” and political cartels.
Despite strong showings—polling 152,184 votes and claiming victories in six sub-counties—he fell short to Wanga, who secured 244,559 votes.
Kidero rejected the results, alleging irregularities, and petitioned IEBC for election materials, but his Supreme Court challenge was ultimately unsuccessful.
Undeterred, Kidero has kept his political flame alive through strategic alliances and party maneuvers.
After quitting ODM, he briefly flirted with forming a new outfit—hinting in September 2022 at a “national party” to counter ODM’s dominance in Nyanza and “liberate the Luo nation from cartels and six-piece cultists.”
Speculation swirled around a potential “Butterfly” or Democratic Congress vehicle, but these did not materialize.
By March 2023, he aligned with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), joining a cohort of Nyanza heavyweights including ex-governors Okoth Obado (Migori) and Jack Ranguma (Kisumu).
Kidero slammed ODM and Azimio la Umoja for fostering chaos and marginalizing the region, vowing to back a party that “cares about its people.”
This UDA affiliation positioned him as a bridge-builder in Ruto’s bottom-up economic agenda, though he has maintained ties across divides, including public support for Raila Odinga’s past presidential bids.
As Kenya gears up for the 2027 General Elections, Kidero’s acquittal supercharges speculation about his next move.
Whispers in Nairobi political circles suggest a potential return to City Hall, where he recently engaged MCAs amid a crowded field featuring figures like Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, businesswoman Agnes Kagure, Kasarani MP James Gakuya, and incumbent Johnson Sakaja.
Yet, his Homa Bay base remains a strong pull: with Wanga’s term winding down, Kidero could remount a gubernatorial bid under UDA or even independently, leveraging his 2022 momentum and cleared name to rally anti-ODM sentiments.
Observers note his financial clout and cross-regional appeal could disrupt Nyanza dynamics, especially if ODM faces internal rifts.
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