Court bars Senate from ordering Oparanya’s arrest

The Senate was on Wednesday barred from ordering the arrest of Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya over the 7.4 billion shillings in financial year 2013/2014 audit query.

While delivering his ruling, High Court Judge, George Odunga, however, gave temporary orders pending hearing and determination of the suit.

In the matter, Kakamega Governor, Wycliffe Oparanya, moved to the High Court to challenge his alleged failure to attend Senate summons saying that he is not the accounting officer of the county.

The Governor also argued that the summons by the Senate are in bad faith.

Oparanya was summoned to appear before the committee on July 19, to answer audit queries on 7.4 billion shillings spent in the 2013/2014 financial year.

He claimed he responded to the request on July 14 but the committee went ahead to initiate a criminal case against him.

He sent his deputy Philip Kutima to represent him, but committee members said they wanted to deal with no one else but the Governor, before directing the Inspector General of Police to have Oparanya arrested.

Oparanya has named the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General as respondents in the case.