Court frees Okoth Obado on bail in firearms probe

What you need to know:

  • Governor Obado was arrested on Wednesday after police said they found 8 firearms after raiding his Nairobi and Migori homes.

The court on Friday released Migori Governor Okoth Obado on bail after dismissing an application to detain him pending conclusion of a firearms possession investigation.

The Kibera court freed the Migori governor on a Sh500,000 bond with surety of a similar amount or Sh200, 000 cash bail and ordered him not to interfere with the ongoing investigations.

Kibera Chief Magistrate Joyce Gandani ruled that the prosecution failed to establish why Mr Obado should continue being held in custody.

Ms Gandani ruled that the governor is not a flight risk and is not likely to tamper with witnesses even though none have yet been identified.

The prosecution wanted the governor to be detained for 15 days as police finalised the alleged case of possession of firearms and ammunition.

Mr Obado had spent two nights in police cells after his arrest on Wednesday after police said they found eight firearms in his Nairobi and Migori homes.