Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga: How Raila Saved Me from Arrest at JKIA

Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga has revealed how opposition leader Raila Odinga thwarted plans by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji to arrest him over alleged graft. 

Speaking in Awendo, Migori County, Rasanga said there were plans to arrest him immediately he lands at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) from Canada where he had been on a trip.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Governor said he walked freely out of the airport despite a prosecution order after Raila's intervention.

“When I was in Canada on an errand for Raila, I received news that I was to be arrested at the airport, after calling Baba (Raila), things were cleared and I majestically passed through the airport,” said Rasanga.

Last week, the DPP okayed Governor Rasanga's arrest and prosecution for allegedly paying flight tickets for friends and family members using taxpayers cash.

Rasanga is accused of buying business class air tickets worth Sh5 million for his wife Rosalia as well as economy class and first class tickets for his five children on several occasions.

It was also established that the Governor disregarded procurement laws and irregularly awarded a tender for construction of a pre-fabricated building at a cost of Sh22.5 million at Siaya County headquarters.