Two Homa Bay county officials ‘on the run’ over Ksh.26M scam

A Homa Bay court has issued a warrant of arrest against two County Assembly officials for evading arrest.

Senior Principal Magistrate Thomas Obuto directed that Bob Kephas Otieno (a county clerk) and Maurice Amek (senior accounts controller) are to be arrested and handed over to the court immediately.

The two senior officials disappeared on Thursday to evade arrest by Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives over alleged of embezzlement of Ksh.26million.

Five other suspects including Caroline Chepkemoi Sang’(principal finance officer), Edwin Okello (cashier), Judith Omogi (former assembly service board member), Owino Ooro (former majority leader) and Isaac Ouso Nyandege (former minority leader) appeared before the court and denied the charges.

The court heard that between June 2, 2016 and January 26, 2017, the seven jointly conspired to commit an offence of corruption namely embezzlement of public funds.

They purported that the cash would be used as facilitation for travel, conference accommodation and allowances for members of the county assembly and other county staff during the financial years 2015- 2016 and 2016- 2017.

The accused’s lawyer Samuel Nyauke requested the court to grant them bond arguing that the accused would not disappear should they be released.

However, the Prosecutor, Hellen Mutellah objected Nyauke’s application on grounds that the accused would interfere with witnesses if released on bond.

The judge ruled that the accused be remanded until August 22 when the matter will be heard.