Five Homa Bay County officials have been sentenced to jail for over Ksh27 million graft cases dating back to 2017.
The five, Christopher Bob Otieno (clerk to the Assembly), Caroline Sang (principal finance officer), Maurice Odwuor Amek (senior accounts controller), Michael Owino Ooro (majority leader, first Assembly) and Isaac Ouso Nyandenge (minority leader, First Assembly) are accused of embezzling public funds purportedly paid out as imprest to senior officials of the county assembly.
The five alongside others were arrested on August 17, 2018, and arraigned before the Homa Bay Law Courts where they pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecution called a total of 31 witnesses.
On Friday, June 17, 2022, senior magistrate Thomas Obutu convicted and sentenced the accused persons; Christopher Bob Otieno, Caroline Sang, Michael Owino Ooro, Isaac Ouso Nyandenge and Judith Akinyi Omogi for different offences.
Prison sentence to the Homa Bay County assembly officials
Christopher Bob Otieno was sentenced to pay a total fine of Ksh10.3 million or serve six years’ imprisonment while Caroline Sang was sentenced to pay a total fine of Ksh14,924,278 or serve six years’ imprisonment in default.
Maurice Odwuor Amek was sentenced to pay a total fine of Ksh14,924,278 or serve six years’ imprisonment while Michael Owino Ooro was sentenced to pay a total fine of Ksh8,996,000 or serve six years’ imprisonment
Isaac Ouso Nyandenge was sentenced to pay a total fine of Ksh7 million or serve five years’ imprisonment.
Otieno, Ms Sang, Amek and Ooro have also been disqualified from being elected or appointed to any public office for a period of 10 years from the date of conviction.
Judith Akinyi Omogi (nominated MCA) and Edwin Omondi Okello (assembly cashier), who were co-accused, were acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence to prove charges against them.
