Economy

Police seek to detain Obado for 15 days in firearms probe

OBADO

Migori Governor Okoth Obado before a Nairobi on November 15. PHOTO | DENNIS ONSONGO

Migori Governor Okoth Obado spent a second night in police cells as police seek to detain him for 15 days while investigating his possession of guns and ammunitions.

Mr Obado, who was arrested on Wednesday at the Hilton Hotel, Nairobi was Thursday arraigned in a Kibera court after his transfer from Milimani Law Courts, a relocation that his lawyer termed as “a game of musical chairs.”

Chief Magistrate Joyce Gandani ordered Mr be detained at Gigiri Police Station pending a ruling on the application on Friday.

The prosecution led by Ms Catherine Mwaniki, said the requested time would allow detectives conclude investigations before preferring charges of possession of firearms and ammunition without valid certificates against the embattled governor.

“We will need time to also find out if the firearms were used in any crimes, which might lead to other charges,” Ms Mwaniki argued

Mr Obado was arrested a day after Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officers raided his homes and office and reportedly found eight guns and ammunition.

Five of the guns were found at his home in Lovington, Nairobi and have been accounted for. The three that are the subject of investigations were found at his Rapogi home in Migori.

"Upon questioning, he did not provide a satisfactory reason why he was in possession of weapons and ammunition," Ms Mwaniki told the court.

"Detectives will conduct an analysis of the homestead and carry out ballistic tests to know who the registered owners of the weapons are," the prosecutor said.

Police will also scrutinise Mr Obado's phone data as part of the investigations.

His lawyers opposed the application, terming it malicious and aimed at embarrassing him.