President William Ruto has pardoned former Kenya Medical Research Institute director Davy Koech.
Koech had in September 2021 been sentenced to a six-year jail term for fraudulently acquiring Sh19.3 million.
He was among 37 individuals the Head of State pardoned under the Power of Mercy Act 2011 upon the recommendation of the Advisory Committee.
At the same time, Ruto commuted all death sentences imposed before November 21, 2022, to life imprisonment on the recommendation of the committee.
Attorney General Justin Muturi ratified the pardon in a gazette notice dated July 21, 2023.
Koech had in the past appealed the ruling by Magistrate Victor Wakumile that was pronounced in September 2021, arguing that it was flawed.
Magistrate Wakumile found Koech guilty of three counts of fraudulent acquisition of public property and was fined Sh19.6 million or a six-year jail term.
The first charge read that Koech irregularly acquired Sh800,000 public property from the research institution on August 17, 2006.
The second and third charges read that on December 12, 2006, he fraudulently acquired Sh6 million and another subsequent Sh12.5 million from KEMRI.
He was also accused of using his office to transfer Sh19.3 million held in the account of Vector Biological and Control Research.
The magistrate had argued that there was sufficient reason beyond doubt that Koech was guilty.
