Former Treasury CS Henry Rotich and four others were on Wednesday charged afresh over the Sh50 billion-shilling Arror and Kimwarer dams scandals.

Rotich and the other four were charged after Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji withdrew charges against former Treasury PS Kamau Thugge and other accused persons.

Thugge will now be a key prosecution witness in the case and is expected to testify against Rotich, who was his former boss.

Rotich was charged together with Kerio Valley Development Authority Managing Director David Kipchumba Kimosop, Chief Economist Kennedy Nyakundi Nyachiro, Head of Europe II Division Jackson Njau Kinyanjui and Titus Muriithi, Director Resource Mobilisation Department of National Treasury.

The five were charged before Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti with conspiracy to defraud, abuse of office, financial misconduct, willful failure to comply with procurement laws and engaging in a project without prior planning.

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All the four accused denied the charges.

Rotich and his co-accused are accused of starting to develop Arror and Kimwarer multi-purpose dams without approval between December 17, 2014 and January 31, 2019.

They are accused of conspiring to defraud the Kenya Government of USD501.8 million together with others not before the court and illegally secured a commercial loan for it.

The case is set to be heard on October 18, 21 and 22.