Lack of funds ground Eldoret court operations
Courts lack essentials including stationery
7d agoBY MATHEWS NDANYINews
Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado is set to appear in court today for the hearing of a case in which he is allegedly accused, alongside his children and alleged proxies, of corruption involving approximately Sh73.5 million.
The money was allegedly acquired through irregular contracts with the county government according to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
In today’s hearing before magistrate Charles Ondieki, the first prosecution witness, the EACC investigating officer Robert Rono is expected to disclose how the former governor, his four children and 11 other accused persons hatched and executed the alleged fraud.
Rono who has been testifying for the last three years since the hearing began has produced bank transactions showing how money was moved from the coffers of the county government of Migori into those of the accused persons.
The prosecution has lined up 59 witnesses to testify in a bid to prove the case against Obado and his co-accused persons.
The court has since heard that Obado and other county officials exaggerated the prices of goods and services to unfairly confer financial benefits to themselves.
Today’s hearing is the first to be heard by Magistrate Ondieki after he took over the matter from Chief Magistrate Victor Wakumile who was transferred.
Wakumile had also taken over the case from then-chief magistrate Lawrence Mugambi in 2022 after the latter’s court was elevated.
Mugambi was appointed judge of the High Court in 2022 meaning he could no longer handle matters before a magistrate’s court.
