Migori Governor Okoth Obado to be remanded at Industrial Area GK prison for 11 more days after High disallowed his application for bail on Thursday.
Obado will eat the ordinary meal taken by inmates at the remand station until he is Presented to court again.
Judge Jessie Lessit disallowed the application for bail until witness statements and other bits of evidence were provided to all parties in the case on October 8. Obado together with the two other suspects; his personal assistant Michael Oyamo and Caspel Obiero, a clerk at the Migori County Assembly are set to appear before the court on October 8, 2018.
Reading the ruling, Judge Lessit explained that the only way the court can ensure the case is not interfered with is by having the accused in police custody. Obado who is facing murder charges following the gruesome killing of pregnant Rongo University student was remanded on Tuesday for two nights at the Industrial Area GK Prisons following an order by Lady Justice Jessie Lessit where the ordinary meal is kales. Obado is charged with the murder of Rongo University medical statistics diploma student Sharon Otieno.
Earlier his lawyer Cliff Ombetta had argued that that his client would comply with all the orders of the court ant that he would not influence the witnesses if released on bail. “Yes, he (Obado), the accused, is a man of influence; this is just political and not the case. He will not, in way, if granted bail, influence the witnesses,” argued Ombeta on Monday. However, in Thursday’s ruling, Judge Lessit, ruled Obado being a Governor and a man who rose to power through politics he has a likelihood of interfering with witnesses’ accounts.
The prosecution had earlier argued that Sharon’s family was being threatened. “No OB number has been produced. Who is family? Somebody specific must have been threatened! The court cannot speculate, the court cannot imagine, the court cannot assume, the court must see,” argued Ombeta on Monday when the court declined to grant bail to Obado pending further hearing of the matter on Thursday. “My client can’t be accused of murder. He only performed his manly duties- a biblical fulfilment, a societal happiness and an expansion of the ecosystem. Is impregnating a woman murder?” Ombeta had argued.