Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Hearing of the Sh73.4 million corruption case against Migori Governor Okoth Obado, his four children and 11 others failed to commence yesterday.

This was after the court lacked equipment to facilitate the hearing virtually against some of the suspects said to have contracted Covid-19 and could not attend the physical hearing.  

While adjourning the matter, Milimani Chief Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi said there were hiccups, as there was no screen or Internet to enable the suspects, including Obado’s children, to follow the proceedings from their links.

“Case had been scheduled for hearing for four continuous days and since it has emerged that the court, which has a screen and Internet is being used by the High Court in another case, this case now stands adjourned,” Mugambi ruled.

In yesterday’s physical proceedings, only Obado and his son Jerry Okoth were present in court with he rest of the accused persons attending the session virtually. 

Court was also told that one of the accused, Peninah Ouma, was absent on both the physical and virtual platform after contracting Covid and is currently admitted at a hospital in Migori.

The Magistrate directed that the case be mentioned tomorrow for further directions. The Director of Public Prosecution, through Eva Kanyuira had informed the court that they were ready to commence the hearing, as they had the first witness in court ready to testify.

“Prosecution was ready to proceed with the case. With permission of the court we had an opening statement that we would like to give before we put the first witness on the stand. The first witness is also present in court,” said Kanyuira.

In the case, Obado and his four children are charged with alleged embezzlement of public funds amounting to Sh73.4 million.