Besieged Migori Governor Okoth Obado Freed on Sh500,000 Bond

The court on Friday rejected an application by the prosecution seeking to have embattled Migori Governor Okoth Obado detained for 15 days pending completion of investigations into allegations of being in possession of illegal firearms.

In a ruling on Friday, Kibera Law Court Chief Magistrate Joyce Gondani freed Obado on a bond amount of Sh500,000 with surety of similar amount or Sh200,000 cash bail.

Judge Gondani said the prosecution failed to give compelling reasons why the accused person should remain in custody for two weeks.

"There are no compelling reasons to detain him. He is not a flight risk and is not likely to tamper with witnesses," Gandani ruled.

"An arrested person has right to be released on bond before or after being brought in court unless there are compelling reasons not to."

She also warned Governor Obado against interfering with ongoing investigations.

Obado was arrested outside Hilton Hotel on Wednesday after eight firearms were found during a raid of his Nairobi and Migori homes on Tuesday by detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), who were looking for documents to support their Sh2 billion theft case against him.

The second-term governor is also fighting to clear his name in a case where he's charged with the murder of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno, who was his lover.