Governor Ojaamong spends two days in custody :: Kenya

Busia governor Sospeter Ojaamong will spend two nights in a police cell awaiting determination of his bail application.

million. Ojaamong became the first governor in office to face charges of corruption.

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The county chief has been accused of conspiracy to defraud the Sh8 million county government, engaging in projects without proper planning and abuse of power .

The governor went to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission but was eventually detained.

The decision to lock him up follows a lengthy court appearance where he denied the charges.

Prosecutors Alexander Muteti and Victor Owiti objected to their bail application, saying they would interfere with witnesses and scare off junior officers who have filed statements.

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According to the prosecution, protests in Busia protesting the prosecution by the governor were an indication that it would endanger the lives of investigators and other officials.

But his lawyer, James Orengo, dismissed the claims, arguing that there was no compelling reason for the refusal of bail.

"What example do we send to Kenyans who, every time they come to court, must apply for bail while the Constitution clearly states that bail is a fundamental right and a fair trial "said Mr. Orengo. also Senator Siaya.

He stated that he was disappointed that the Crown was opposed to bail applications, even in cases where the accused had made common sense in working with the accused. investigators and reporting to the police.

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According to the lawmaker, the cases have been under investigation since 2014, when Mr Ojaamong was in power, and he would have already interfered with the witnesses' s arrest. he feared that business would be true.

The pleas of his lawyers to release him failed.

"There are voluminous arguments presented by the parties that I must consider before making an overall decision to release him on bail," said Chief Magistrate Daniel Ogoti.

"He will therefore be sent back alongside the other defendants in the anti-corruption police cells until Friday," he added.

Ojaamong was charged alongside Chief Financial Officer Bernard Yaite, Chief Financial Officer Leonard Obimbira, and Chief Accounting Officer Samuel Ombui.

In the first case, the four were accused of conspiring to defraud the Busia County government of 8 million shillings by concluding an agreement for a feasibility study on solid waste management.

The study was to be conducted by Madam R Enterprises Limited, but the company's services had not been properly secured, according to the indictment.

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The governor also faced an alternative charge of abuse of power.

He was also accused of engaging in a project without proper planning by entering into an agreement for the project during a trip to Germany while knowing that the money had not been made. not budgeted.