Obado guns: Prosecution wants Migori Governor detained for 15 days

The government is seeking to have Migori Governor Okoth Obado detained for two weeks in the case involving his arrest over alleged illegal possession of firearms.

Led by Ms Catherine Mwaniki, the prosecution said the 15 days in their application will allow them run conclusive investigations in a bid to refer among other charges; possible firearms without valid certificates and possession of ammunition charges.

“We are asking for 15 days to allow the officers (including ballistics) to travel to his rural home to thoroughly investigate. We will need time to also find out if the firearms were used in any crimes which might lead to other charges,” argued Ms Mwaniki.

The governor, who spent the night at the Gigiri Police Station was arraigned under a miscellaneous application at the Kibra Law Courts.

In their argument, the prosecution told the court that upon questioning, Obado did not give satisfactory reasons on how he was in possession of the firearms and ammunition in question which is contrary to the Firearms Acts.

“We need time to go through firearms data to find out rightful owners of the firearms… We need time to find if there are probable suspects, to record statements of witnesses, to go through phone data of probable suspects,” added Ms Mwaniki.

The governor was arrested in Nairobi on Wednesday after 8 guns were recovered from the raid at his homes in Migori and the Capital.

Detectives from EACC staged a five-hour long search in Obado’s homes, with documents that could aid in an ongoing investigation in the misappropriation of Ksh.2 billion county funds were obtained during the operation.

Obado, through lawyer Rojers Sagana however told court that the said firearms were not subject of dispute as they were verified.

He further argues that one of the bail terms in his criminal case in the murder of Sharon Otieno of 2018, bars him from being in his Rapogi home, so the idea that he would interfere with investigations remains unlikely.

Obado added that none of the pending investigations against him require his detention terming the application as punishment by public humiliation and embarrassment.

The defence also told the court that Obado has not breached any bail terms before adding that body guards arrested at the home have already recorded statements without any interference.