By Viola Kosome
The hearing of a case in which Raila Odinga’s sister Ruth Odinga, Kisumu Senator Fred Outa and four others are charged with committing election offenses failed to take off on Monday after the fourth accused person failed to show up in court.
Apearing before Kisumu Chief Magistrate Peter Gesora, a lawyer who represented the fourth accused person told the court that his client Francis Odhiambo had an emergency and could not make it to court.
“My client is sick and could not make it to court today,” said lawyer Geoffrey Yogo. The magistrate directed that Odhiambo to present medical reports on Thursday this week when he will be coming to court.
The six were charged with entering an electoral area designed by Independent Electoral Boundaries Commissions without authority contrary to section 13(h) of the elections offences Act No 37 of 2016.
The court heard that the accused persons on the 18th day of October 2017at Milimani Ward within Kisumu jointly with others who did not appear before court entered prosperity building area, an election area designated for electoral purposes of training presiding officers in preparations for the fresh presidential election to be held on October 27, 2017 without authority of the IEBC.
The case will be heard on Thursday 27, 2020.