The move to arrest Migori Governor Okoth Obado over guns found in his homes has largely confirmed a long-held suspicion that someone powerful wants to tame the county boss’ growing influence in Nyanza.
The Wednesday arrest comes days after the governor was released on bail, following dramatised weeks in police cells, over the death of university student Sharon Otieno. The governor has strongly denied any involvement in the murder charge.
The unprecedented delay in the bail application ruling of the murder case made many legal experts to voice concerns that a powerful political hand was out to keep the governor in police custody over a bailable accusation.
Since the governor was first arrested, detectives have been looking to “compose crimes” the governor may have committed. They are simply out to get him at whatever cost, as they don't seem to have any evidence to prove the allegations.
For instance, detectives from the EACC are yet to provide evidence of misappropriation of funds in the county – a suspicious accusation that was brought up after the death of Ms Otieno. So they are now invading his homes to look for evidence. Which begs the question: what was the basis of the allegation in the first place?
At the time of taking away the eight firearms from Governor’s Obado’s Nairobi and Migori homes, the EACC detectives did not know who was licensed to own them. They seemed to bank on the hope that they were unlicensed.
It is now clear that EACC is now being used to settle political feuds. The failing anti-graft agency long stopped fighting corruption with honesty.
As we all know, nearly all political leaders in the country are either licensed to carry guns for their own safety or their security aides are allowed to carry weapons to protect them. We have not seen detectives raiding the homes of the other 46 governors to see if they are lawfully holding the firearms.
The arrest of the governor comes at a time Deputy President William Ruto had warmed up to him. Through Obado, the DP hopes to get support in parts of Luo Nyanza in his 2022 presidential bid. And someone is not happy about that.
Governor Obado, who defied the ODM wave in 2013 to be elected on another party, has not always endorsed Raila Odinga and his party’s imposed decisions. Because of his massive grassroots support, powerful operatives in ODM have found it difficult to punish the governor and reduce his growing influence in Nyanza politics.
But with the handshake deal, Raila now has allies in government who can help him “fix the rebellious” county boss. Which is why the governor is first being arrested in dramatic fashion, then police go out to look for evidence against any conceivable crime he may have committed.