Obado impeachment: Tension rises as speaker reports attack by 'goons'

A showdown looms at the Migori County Assembly ahead of the tabling of a motion to impeach Governor Okoth Obado, with reports of intimidation tactics aimed at MCAs.

There have been reports of threats to the lives of MCAs, whether they are pro or against Governor Obado, the latest case being an alleged attack on Speaker Boaz Okoth in Kisumu County on Friday night.

The speaker’s allegation came a day after Muhuru Bay MCA Heverone Maira said he had been receiving threats over the impeachment matter.

Mr Okoth claims a group of youth threatened to harm him at his residence at Ruby Courts in Kisumu, in the presence of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna.

He claimed Mr Sifuna was in the company of his brother and that the group attacked his security detail at night and said nothing will stop the county chief’s impeachment.

Mr Okoth further said the group accused him of housing Migori MCAs in the apartment and that when he went to report the matter to the police, a vehicle trailed them.

“These people wanted to harm me yet in this impeachment circus I am a neutral person whose mandate is clear. I have been sick for close to a year and there is nobody I can harm. That is why I am wondering why Sifuna and his goons wanted to harm me,” he told the press at Ruby on Saturday.

The Nation could not reach Mr Sifuna for his comment on the speaker’s claims as several phone calls and messages went unanswered.

Informed choices

The speaker claimed members are facing threats from external forces which want them to vote in a predetermined manner.

“I ask my MCAs to make informed choices if the motion is brought before the House. I assure them that they will be safe within the assembly,” he said.

The speaker, however, told journalists that he was yet to receive a motion, but noted his readiness to preside over the matter.

“When the notice of motion is brought, I will carry out my duties as the speaker. The MCAs are mature and will make the decision by themselves. If they impeach Mr Obado, I cannot refuse [sic]. I am only a speaker,” he said.

He pointed out that their mandate as MCAs is to find out if money was allocated and whether the job was done, not to follow up on the award of contracts.

“We follow matters where public money is looted. We look at whether the procurement was done and the goods supplied. Whoever is given the contracts is none of our business. This is taken care of by the EACC and the DCI,” he said.

The speaker also denied claims that the assembly had sided with the executive and that MCAs were therefore unable to oversee actions by Governor Obado’s administration.

ODM move

Mr Obado has been released on a Sh20 million bond or Sh8.7 million cash bail pending the hearing of a corruption case.

He is accused, alongside his four children, five close allies and 13 companies, of corruption, conflict of interest, unlawful acquisition of public property and money laundering.

The case prompted ODM to kick-start a process of removing him from office after 37 MCAs signed a petition.

The party wants Deputy Governor Mwita Mahanga to take over because the courts ruled the governor should not be allowed anywhere near his office.

The move has elicited mixed reactions with some people accusing politician Raila Odinga’s party of applying double standards in the anti-graft war.

Maira’s case

On Friday, MCA Maira claimed he had been receiving threats from callers over his hardline position on Governor Obado’s impeachment.

The MCA recorded a statement at Migori Police station after allegedly receiving calls from unknown numbers and being told to tone down or "face something worse".

He alleged several attempts to coerce ODM MCAs into abandoning their position on the bid to remove Mr Obado from office.

“I received calls from various numbers warning me to proceed with caution. Police have taken over the matter,” he said.

The MCA was among those who appended their signatures to remove the governor at a meeting held by party bigwigs on Tuesday.

Mr Maira said the party was close to meeting the 75 per cent threshold of members needed for the motion to sail through.

Meanwhile, ODM has raised concerns about the alleged threats and intimidation and asked law enforcers to protect those who voted in the Tuesday meeting.

In a press statement on Thursday, National Chairman John Mbadi called on the government to “ensure the security of Migori MCAs and protect them from any form of intimidation and blackmail".