Migori deputy governor takes charge

Migori Deputy Governor Nelson Mahanga Mwita has taken over key functions of the county after the High Court blocked Governor Okoth Obado, who is facing graft charges, from accessing his offices.

ODM’s decision to push for the impeachment of Mr Obado and have his deputy take charge has elicited mixed reactions in Migori.

On Wednesday, Mr Mahanga said: "I'm back and ready to discharge my duties in the absence of my boss. My prolonged absence from the public was occasioned by sickness but I have fully recovered.

He further said: "I do not wish for the governor to be thrown behind bars, he is in my prayers and I have no intention to unseat him."

 Speaking in his office, Mr Mahanga said that there was no vacuum in the county's leadership.

"Migori residents should remain calm. There is no leadership vacuum and with the support of other executives, we will deliver to the people of Migori," said Mr Mahanga.

 But Mr Obado’s supporters have accused Senator Ochillo Ayacko of scheming to have the county chief impeached.

The embattled Migori county boss accused the ODM officials of being authoritarian, saying they had gone ahead to push him out office without giving him time to exonerate himself from the corruption charges he is facing.

Speaking during an interview with Ramogi radio on Wednesday, Mr Obado said the Migori ward reps, who travelled to Nairobi a consultative meeting with top party officials, were prevailed upon to have him impeached.

"MCAs have a right to initiate an impeachment motion against a governor. But why would the party force the Migori MCAs to impeach me when most of the grounds for what I have been accused of have not been looked into?" said Mr Obado.

ODM MCAs resolved to have Mr Obado impeached over graft claims.

Party chairman John Mbadi told the Nation that a total of 37 out of the 41 ODM ward reps, who attended a consultative meeting in Nairobi Tuesday, agreed to have the governor removed from office.

Four ODM MCAs could not attend the meeting, Mr Mbadi said.

On Monday, Chief Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi of the Milimani Anti-corruption Court freed Obado on Sh8.7 million cash bail or an alternative Sh20 million bond and prohibited him from travelling outside the country.

Following the developments, ODM, which has a majority in the Migori County Assembly, invited its members for an urgent "consultative meeting" in Nairobi Tuesday.

ODM said on Twitter that the deputy governor of Migori will have to take over because the governor is not only fighting corruption claims but that he has been barred from accessing his office.