By MN Reporter
Four witnesses, including North Kanyamkago MCA George Omamba took to the dock to testify over the case in which Migori Assembly Speaker Boaz Okoth and 13 others face graft charges.
The four appeared before Kisumu chief magistrate Peter Gesora.
The group is accused of embezzling Sh10 million from the Migori County Assembly coffers with the fund meant for construction of speaker’s house.
Omamba gave a statement as a member of the Speakers panel testified on the
issue in court.
Others included senior and Junior County assembly employees: Lucas Otieno, Sally Atieno, Michael Odongo and Maurice Wao. More witnesses are still lined up.
Okoth and his 13 co-accused denied the charges and are out on a Sh300,000 cash bail each which they were slapped with an alternative bond of Sh3 million each.
At one point, the court which was jam packed had to be cleared as county employees and Earlier, tension packed at the Court before the testimonies as several county employees jammed the court session to listen to the case.
But the magistrate had to order people out including some of the witnesses, and had to warn gun holders to leave their weapons with security agents citing security and citing social distancing to avoid crowding the court.
It was rumored that some witnesses had allegedly been threatened if they dared peddle falsehood before the courts, with each witness being asked if they had received threats either verbally, or via text messaging.
Omamba who went first disowned part of their statement that claimed he had named one of the accused Mathews Chacha, Bukira East MCA and the current deputy speaker.
“Did you name Mathews Chacha as one of the key suspects and that you can confirm the same to the honorable and open court?,” he was asked.
Omamba said, No.
He claimed, despite being asked severally by Chacha’s lawyer, that the names were part of the extract contained in the County public investment audit report and that he had not named any one as alleged.
Omamba told court he needed witness protection given the sensitivity of the matter and high profile persons in the county involved.
Interestingly, the magistrate made a mockery of his prayers treating litigants to prolonged laughter.
“Bwana Omamba, Your suit, it looks damn expensive, let alone your tie and shoes. Do you think the state can afford to take care of you,’ he said in a light chuckle.
But Omamba, too, responded in a frenzy way saying. ‘My lords, you know the nature of my work dictates that I dress smart. So it’s a duty sake,’’ he asserted.
Otieno, an ICT administration officer at the Assembly, said he did not receive threats,
Atieno, senior clerk assistant when hard pressed to explain why she did not attend the valuation exercise for the Speaker’s residence said she was out on official duty and was unable to attend the exercise.
The tender was awarded to Gumba contractors and paid an installment of Sh13 million.
Michael Odongo, senior administrative officer said he had never been threatened.
The accused were charged on 1st December 2020 with conspiracy to commit the offence of corruption in the first count.
The speaker, board chairman, deputy speaker, board members and supply chain officers respectively are said to have conspired to commit an offence of corruption.
Cited was the misappropriation of Sh10 million public funds from Migori county assembly between May 23, 2019 and July 15, 2019.
They are facing 11 counts among them; abuse of office, conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption.
This includes fraudulent acquisition of public property with suppliers and contractors, failure to comply with procurement laws and misuse of public funds.
In October, last year, some MCAs planned the Speaker’s ouster claiming that he was frustrating the impeachment of Governor Okoth Obado initiated by ODM.
The MCAs argued Mr Obado’s impeachment was taking longer than anticipated because the Speaker was angling to succeed him in 2022 and wanted his back up. The hearing continues on August 31st and September,30th this year.
