Migori Speaker Boaz Okoth, 13 others spend night in cells over graft allegations

Migori County Assembly Speaker Boaz Okoth and 13 other suspects spent Tuesday night in police custody in Kisumu after they were arrested over alleged graft offenses.

The accused took plea before Kisumu Law Courts Chief Magistrate Peter Gesore where they denied 11 counts relating to graft allegations.

Magistrate Gesore said he will give a ruling on bail terms on Wednesday morning given that they arrived late in court for plea taking.

He said the courts had closed and offices processing bail terms were not in operation at the time, ordering the suspects to be remanded in various police stations in Kisumu.

The accused are facing 11 charges including conspiracy to commit an offense of corruption, fraudulent acquisition of public property, failure to comply with procurement laws, management of public funds, and abuse of office.

Boaz alongside 10 others in the first charge are accused of misappropriating Ksh.10 million from Migori County Assembly.

The Speaker and 7 others are also accused of directing the Clerk of the Assembly to expend funds appropriated for development purposes into payment of recurrent expenditure totaling to Ksh.25 million.