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Crime & Investigations

More Trouble For Obado As DPP Sets To Table 500 New Evidence In His Graft Case

by Yahil Felix
written by Yahil Felix

Embattled Migori Governor Okoth Obado, his four children and eleven other people might face another rough time as the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) is set to table new evidence in the Sh 73.4 million corruption case.

When the case came up for hearing on Tuesday before trial magistrate Lawrence Mugambi, the DPP through Senior State Counsel Eva Kanyuira told the court that this office has new evidence in the case against Obado and his co-accused parties.

The senior counsel told the magistrate that in the course of the pre-trial proceedings with the investigating officer, they discovered 500 new pieces of information which will be vital in the case.

She stated that the state would like to amend the charges against all the accused persons following the fresh evidence that has emerged.

Kanyuira asked the court to allow the prosecution to amend and substitute the charge sheet “in the interest of justice.”

“It will not cause any prejudice or injustice to the accused persons as they shall be accorded sufficient opportunity and time to test and challenge the prosecution case as presented,” the DPP said.

The State also sought more time to have the defense team go through the new evidence before the trial started.

The magistrate hesitantly allowed the defense lawyers and accused persons a day to go through the new evidence until Thursday morning when the case is expected to begin.

Among the new evidence introduced in the case are documents recovered from Obado’s home in Uriri in Migori, Migori county government, evaluation committee report for meeting NoECR/263/2015-2016 dated June 8 to 14 of 2014, offer for sale agreement for Loresho Ridge townhouse dated August 12, 2014 and bank account statements from KCB, Co-operative banks, Central Bank of Kenya and Bank of Scotland.

Other documents include payment vouchers for several companies including M/S Deltrack ICT Services, Dolphus Softwares, Peuslus Supplies, Kajulu Business Solutions Associates, Atinus Services and Victorious Investments.

The defense led by George Kithi had declined the request by the State to have the case proceed without them being given an opportunity to go through the new evidence.

Only Obado was present during Tuesday hearing while the rest of the co-accused attended virtually.

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DP Ruto Buys An Umbrella For Ksh 20,000 In Migori

by Yahil Felix
written by Yahil Felix

The deputy president William Ruto on Saturday took his campaign to Okoth Obados backyard. Residents thronged the area to witness the second in command and the politicians who accompanied him. While addressing a crowd on the roadside, he saw a woman identified as Mackline Otieno carrying an umbrella and he asked her if she could pass it to him.

Photo: Courtesy

Mackline quickly gave it to Ruto who was addressing the crowd on top of his vehicle. He in turn gave shillings 20,000 to the woman. In another incident, a man walking in crutches asked to be allowed to have a word with the deputy president. He got his surprise of the day when he was also given Ksh 20,0000.

Photo: Courtesy

Ruto also donated Ksh 2 million to boda boda saccos and small scale traders in the area. While addressing the residents, he blamed president Uhuru Kenyatta for frustrating his presidential bid, adding that his only hope now lies with ordinary Kenyans.

He criticized the government for failing to secure the economic welfare of Kenyans. He said that the work of the government is to make policies that ensure the youths are employed, or they can run their own business. Ruto pledged to allocate 120 million to support small scale traders across the country.

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Politics

ODM Speaks Out After Jimmy Wanjigi Was Stoned & Chased Away In Migori

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Raila Odinga-led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has issued an official statement hours after presidential hopeful Jimmy Wanjigi was pelted with stones while on his tour of Migori.

Wanjigi who has declared his interest in 2022 presidency is in Nyanza trying to popularize himself ahead of the ODM presidential nominations.

Wanjigi is battling it out with Raila for the ODM presidential ticket.

He kicked off his tour of Nyanza region on Thursday September 16, with his motorcade heading to Migori on Friday but they met a harsh crowd.

While addressing a crowd in Migori town, some people started throwing stones at him, forcing him to flee, aborting his meeting.

It is believed that a section of ODM delegates had accused Wanjigi of desrespecting the O boss Raila.

Wanjigi was met with jeers and heckling as he tried to address the crowd.

However, ODM in a statement issued by its director of campaigns Junet Mohamed has distanced itself from the chaos.

Junet in an official statement posted via ODM social media accounts said that they have worked hard to create an environment where everyone can sell their policies across the country.

He noted that the sponsors of political chaos in Migori are known, adding that he has also been a victim in numerous occasions.

Junet further called on the police to thoroughly investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to book.

He also urged polity aspirants to respect government public order that suspended gatherings to curb the spread of COVID-19.

ODM secretary General Edwin Sifuna has also noted that he has been in contact with the ODM Migori office to establish the cause of the chaos, subsequent to which he will issue a full briefing on the same.

“My office is in contact with the @TheODMparty office in Migori for a full brief on reported cases of violence targeted at one of our members Mr. Jimmy Wanjigi. I have also tried to reach Mr. Wanjigi on phone to confirm he is OK. Full brief to follow,” Sifuna posted.

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40 years old woman disappears mysteriously leaving behind a wry will.

by Ireri Steve
written by Ireri Steve

Waking up to a solitude will could not have been their expected breakfast but they did , collision with a grief blasting paper, possibly with ramshackle disfigured alphabets but the immensity of the message remaining clear. Seems implausible.

The night of 22nd a family in Sigenya ,Migori county woke up to find one of their members disappeared leaving behind a scribbled paper on how her property should be shared.

40 years old Jane Auma on the night of 22nd wrote in her will that the family members should thereafter look for her in a nearby sorghum plantation.

The area chief explained that the possible reason behind the disappearance is yet to be identified though people stated that they had wrangles with the husband.

Adrift in the disappearance hysteria ,the family members are worried on whether their member is alive or sought to ending her life.

Basically, a will is a dessert for a possible inexistence hence the looming fear is vital.

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Crime & Investigations

Migori Blogger Goes Missing After Mysterious Abduction, Family Still In The Dark

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The family of a Migori based blogger is still in the dark days after their son was abducted by three armed men.

According to the family, a group of unknown people had been secretly following Joseph Okoth Ouma, popularly known as Rashid Yusuf – tracing all his moves.

Ouma had claimed on a Facebook post that his life was in danger days before he was kidnapped at his bar in Kokuro Junction, Migori county.

Reports by family members stated that a man walked into the bar posing as a customer and even ordered a drink.

The man is said to have inquired about the owner before walking out of the bar to meet his accomplices who had arrived at the bar in two vehicles.

“After ordering a drink, the man walked to the car which had three other people. The men later stormed the bar, one had a gun. They ordered everyone to lie on the floor.

That’s when they dragged my brother out of the bar and bundled him into the car before speeding away,” said Dominic, Rashid’s brother.

The blogger is yet to be found with the police intensifying their investigations. Residents of Migori urged the police to speed up investigations to find the blogger.

“We expect the criminal investigation department to move with speed to establish the motive of the incident, the people behind the abduction and the whereabouts of Yusuf.

Tension in Migori as blogger goes missing , abducted by gunmen

“As members of the blogging fraternity, as friends of Rashid Yusuf, as people from Migori county, we are not happy with the silence of the leaders, the Kenya Police and criminal investigation department.

“They need to tell us what is happening, and who these people are,” said a blogger in a video posted on social media.

He further stated that the only option was to find Rashid alive, as he hoped the police would find him on time.

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Politics

Migori MCA Assaulted, Her Arm Broken Over Obado’s Impeachment

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

A member of Migori County Assembly was on Wednesday assaulted and her left arm broken as the assembly descended into chaos over the planned ouster  of governor Okoth Obado.

The nominated MCA Mary Ogodo was attacked during a melee at the Migori county assembly ahead of the planned tabling of the impeachment motion against the County chief.

It forced sergeant-at-arms to run away with the mace, the symbol of power in the assembly, as they left members assaulting each other physically, verbally with bottles of water being thrown around.Ogodo was rushed to St Joseph Mission Hospital.

“She is in hospital, her left arm has been broken and she is receiving treatment. She can’t talk right now. She is in stable condition,” an aide told a local daily in a phone interview.

Tension started during the morning session as North Kanyamkago MCA George Omamba got orders from Migori High Court reinstating him as Deputy Speaker on Tuesday evening.

Omamba was impeached by his colleagues on May last year together with assembly clerk Tom Opere, with Bukira East MCA Mathews Chacha and Emmanuel Abala taking over in acting capacity amid court orders.

On Wednesday, trouble started as five pro-Obado MCAs led by Kaler MCA Thomas Akungo walked into the house which was in session and tried to disrupt the session as Omamba was still on the chair.

“The five MCAs were hiding in one of the offices in the assembly controlled by Obado’s relative before they made their way into the assembly and started creating chaos,” a staff said.

In the ensuing melee, the session was disrupted as Ogodo, who is said to be in support of the ouster, was attacked. She blamed Akungo for the melee.

Obado who spoke to a local daily on Tuesday September 22, 2020 revealed a new scheme that has now been employed by the Raila Odinga-led range party.

According to Obado, there are plans to use the police and investigative agencies to threaten ward representatives and county officials opposed to ODM’s plans to kick him out over graft and murder cases that the County chief is facing.

He went ahead to reveal details of a meeting that was held over the weekend in Kisii town where Migori Senator Ochillo Ayacko allegedly met MCAs to give them an ultimatum to either support the ouster or be ready to face the consequences.

Obado  claimed that during the Kisii meeting chaired by Ayacko, a 10-point impeachment motion was drafted with the help of a former magistrate.

He further claimed his rivals plan to use the police to cause chaos in the Assembly so that they can interfere with voting in the event the motion is finally tabled. The impeachment, sanctioned by ODM days after he was charged with graft has stalled for two weeks, amid tension and anxiety in Migori.

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Politics

Photos: Heavy Police Presence in Migori as MCAs Resume Sitting Ahead of Obado Impeachment

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

There was a heavy police presence in Migori on Tuesday September 8, 2020 as Members of County Assembly resumed sittings with governor Okoth Obado’s impeachment being top on the agaenda.

The impeachment motion is expected to be in the Assembly order paper with a section of the ward reps holding they were ready for the process.

The ouster bid — initiated by the Orange Democratic Party– has been clouded with controversies with several MCAs, fearing for reprisals, allegedly fleeing the county.

They House is expected to begin its business as from 2:30pm.

Some of the MCAs have claimed the mission to kick out Obado may hit a dead end because of the sharp divisions among ODM MCAs, threats, intimidation and fears of a backlash from Migori residents.

The Jubilee MCAs are also torn over the ouster bid, with MCAs skipping a meeting organised in Kuria to rally them behind the ouster bid.

Tension has continued to rise in the county with the Assembly Speaker Boaz Okoth claiming his life is in danger after unknown people attacked him on Friday in his Kisumu house for allegedly hosting MCAs for a meeting.

The attack on the Speaker created a wave of tension in the County with fears of violence ahead of Obado’s ouster bid.

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Politics

Obado’s Impeachment Bid Takes a New Twist as MCAs Flee Migori Over Fear

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) bid to oust Migori governor Okoth Obado has taken a twist.

This is after a section of Migori Members of County Assembly allegedly fled the South Nyanza County over fear as tension continues to rise.

According to a report by one of the leading local dailies, a number of MCAs claimed the mission to kick out Obado may fail because of sharp divisions among Orange party MCAs, threats and intimidation as well as fears of a backlash from the residents.

With President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee party plotting to join Raila Orange party in the ouster motion, a number of MCAs are said to have travelled out of Migori, with some claiming they were holding strategy meetings in Kisii, Kisumu and Nairobi in the wake of the developments.

Migori County Jubilee coordinator Mwita Nyangi on Friday September 4, 2020 asked Jubilee MCAs to support Obado’s ouster motion.

However, a section of Jubilee MCAs have refused to buy the idea. A section of them skipped a meeting organised in Kuria to rally them behind the ouster bid.

Yesterday, the Assembly’s minority whip Joseph Oyoo of Jubilee party dismissed attempts by the party to compel them to join ODM to oust Obado.

The Makario Ward MCA dismissed the party’s coordinator Mwita Nyangi who convened a meeting with other party officials from the county and said they would not support Obado ouster.

Several other MCAs claimed anonymously that the push to oust Obado was ill-informed and would not succeed.

There are fears that violence may erupt in the county should the leaders fronting for Obado’s ouster proceed with the move and table an impeachment motion against him.

Some MCAs claimed that the fear of violence erupting as a result of the planned exercise exceeds the wrath of the party should they fail to go against the party’s wishes.

One of the ODM MCAs said he had moved to Kisii to escape intense pressure at the county.

Muhuru MCA Hevron Mahira, who reported threats on his life on Wednesday said that he has moved to a safe place within the county.

He alleged that a few hours after reporting about threat on his life, he received more threats from a strange number for supporting the position of his party over Obado’s fate.

Do you think impeaching Obado will be a walk in the park?

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Politics

Massive Arrests Expected in Migori as ODM Unleashes New Strategy to Ensure Obado is Impeached

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Raila Odinga-led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has come up with a new strategy to fight embattled Migori County governor Okoth Obado.

ODM in a statement signed by its chairman John Mbadi on Thursday afternoon revealed that it was going to furnish the government with the names of Obado’s allies who have been engaging in dirty deals at the County government.

The Orange party said it was going to forward the names of Migori County CECs, directors of various departments, contractors, Chief officers, MCAs, officials and suppliers who are currently involved in raising money and diverting public funds to bribe MCAs and finance violence in Migori.

ODM said that as soon as they forward the names, they will ensure that police arrest the said individuals so that law and order is maintained.

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Obado, a long-time friend of Deputy President William Ruto, has openly dared ODM leader Raila Odinga to bring on his impeachment motion, saying the party has no numbers to kick him out.

According to Obado, ODM placed MCAs in a closed meeting and intimidated them.

Obado is a long-time friend of DP Ruto dating from the time of the governor’s tenure at the defunct Kenya Sugar Board when Ruto was the Minister for Agriculture.

He has hosted the DP several times against ODM’s wishes, including shortly after he was released from prison on bail over the murder of his pregnant girlfriend Sharon Otieno. The case is ongoing. 

Then, he alluded to ODM’s hand in his woes and asked his constituents to allow him to work with Ruto.

For the impeachment to sail through, the motion will need approval of at least 43 members in the house which has 57 MCAs.

ODM has 41 MCAs, seven are independent, Jubilee Party has three, Ford Kenya two while PPOK has one.

Out of the 37 ODM elected MCAs who attended the meeting, 14 refused to sign up for the impeachment bid and only 23 appended their signatures despite persuasion from the party’s top leadership.

Mbadi who chaired the meeting confirmed that 23 signed up but stated that only five refused.

Mbadi, speaking on Wednesday morning – said out of 41 ODM MCAs in Migori, four skipped the function with apology for being sick and 23 “willingly without any intimidation signed and agreed to the impeachment.”

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Crime & InvestigationsLatest News

Man Commits Suicide in Church After Family Declined His Intention to Marry Second Wife

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

A 20-year-old man has committed suicide in a church at a village in Suna East Sub County, Migori County.

According to Lawrence Oluru, the uncle to the deceased, the man decided to take his life in a church after his family declined his intention to marry a second wife.

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Crime & Investigations

Destroying Evidence? Fire Razes Section of Kisumu County Offices

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Fire on Sunday evening razed a section of Kisumu County offices.

During the incident, most computers at IFMIS office were destroyed before the fire was contained.

However, questions have continued to rise following the incident.

Over the recent past, most offices, especially finance offices have been razed down in what many are now speculating to be a way of destroying evidence.

This has been happening mostly in devolved units suspected of corruption.

In September 2017, fire burnt down Migori County offices leading to the destruction of crucial documents.

The former Auditor General Edward Ouko was unable to audit the county since Ksh 1.5 billion receipts were missing.

The cause of the fire that razed the Migori County Procurement stores remained unknown.

In July 2019, the Kitui County Finance offices were razed down by a fire.

A year before the incident,  a fire broke out at a private building housing the Kitui County Government offices.

The fire destroyed vital documents and property in five departments. Environment, Tourism and Education were among the departments affected.

In September 2019, Busia County finance offices were gutted by a fire that broke out at 2am.

The incident that destroyed property of unknown value happened within the vicinity of a fire engine at the county headquarters.

A statement from the county stated that investigations were underway to establish what started the inferno.

This trend among Counties has now continued to raise questions, with many now speculating that the county chiefs are intentionally destroying evidences in graft allegations.

 

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Crime & Investigations

Reprieve to Governor Obado as Court dismisses case

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Migori County Governor Okoth Obado has been facing misfortunes since last year with various cases haunting him. His troubles began when his girlfriend Sharon Otieno, a Rongo University student was murdered, making Obado the main suspect in the murder case.

Before the case could end, detectives from Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) were at his home in a graft case when they came across 8 guns in the home of the county chief, bring another case before him.

He has however been handed a reprieve after a Nairobi Court dismissed the firearms case before him.

The ruling comes after the investigations revealed that the county boss followed the right procedures in acquiring the firearms and he deserves security as he serves the people of his region.

In a presentation in court, the investigating officer confirmed to the court that the firearms confiscated from the governor was obtained through a legal means. 

He also asked the court to take lawful action after the Governor’s arms were taken away. Magistrate Joyce Ngadani has since directed the government to ensure that the governor gets back his arms with immediate effect to allow him to perform his duties without any form of fear.

The prosecution was also warned against acquiring any information in the name of trying to incriminate the Governor following the decision of the court. 

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