Embattled Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich and his co-accused lined up a team of seven defence teams in court on Tuesday over alleged embezzlement of Sh21 billion.
The CS and 27 others denied 24 charges among them abuse of office, conspiracy to defraud the public among others and anti-corruption Judge Douglas Ogoti is set to make a ruling on their bail application at 4 pm.
The defence team includes experienced lawyers some of whom have represented Deputy President William Ruto at International Criminal Court.
The defence team comprises Katwa Kigen, Kioko Kilukumi, Philip Nyachoti, Kipchumba Murkomen, Anami Mugo, Stephen Kimathi, Mahat Samane.
"He has done everything that a suspect can do to help the investigators. He will not run away," Kilukumi said.
A similar plea was echoed by Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, who also asked the court to release Rotich and KVDA workers on reasonable bond.
In response, the prosecution lead by Taib Ali Taib said they do not oppose bail as long as the accused persons surrender their travel documents, keep away from their offices and do not approach ant of the witnesses or tamper with evidence.
"They have been in their offices working for their own benefits and not serving the public. They abused their powers," said Taib Ali Taib who is leading the prosecution.
The government will also seek the extradition of Paolo Porcelli, the Italian director of CMC di Ravenna, to face charges, the director of public prosecutions told Reuters on Tuesday.
“We have the Italian individual, he has not managed to present himself so we will be seeking for his extradition to come and face the charges here in Kenya. We will also issue an international arrest warrant,” Noordin Haji said.
In a statement on Monday, the company said it had not been informed of “any official communication from the Kenyan authorities... CMC is certain of the correctness of the work of the company and its representatives, both in Italy and abroad”.
In a press conference on Monday, DPP Haji said “if the projects were carried out in adherence to the law and existing policies for safeguarding the public interest, then it should not have cost Sh63 billion. We have evidence to prove Sh19,714,366,991 was lost through a well-choreographed scheme to defraud public funds.”
According to DPP Haji, the theft was “a well-choreographer scheme by government officers in collusion with private individuals and institutions.”