It is not over yet with the recurrent problems in the Homabay County Assembly, the latest one being the arraignment of four Members of County Assembly (MCAs) over alleged involvement in criminal activities.
The four were on Tuesday arraigned in court for reportedly assaulting a court official who had arrived at the Assembly to serve court papers to County Assembly Clerk Daniel Kaudo for a contempt of court case.
Ward Representatives Michael Odira, Philemon Kombo, Nereah Amondi and Michael Ojala denied the charges pressed against them while appearing before Senior Magistrate Martha Agutu at the Kisumu Law courts.
Releasing them on a Sh50, 000 bail, the judge disapproved the prosecution’s application for the group to be held for more time, saying that it had failed to support its argument.
“The prosecution has not given compelling reasons why the accused should not be released on bond. I order that each one of them be released on a bond of Sh50,000 and two sureties of a similar amount,” she was quoted by the Nation.
The victim, Elvis Ochieng’, was reportedly saved by police officers who were manning the assembly gate when the lawmakers assaulted him, accusing him of being bribed.
The Judge scheduled the mentioning for December 18 and the hearing for January 24 next year.
This comes amid another ongoing row between the county Speaker Elizabeth Ayoo and a section of MCAs opposed to her stay in office.
The group had initially succeeded in impeaching her before she bounced back courtesy of a reinstatement by the Kisumu Labour Relations court.
Ayoo also accused the members of assaulting her at the floor of the house before she was rescued by the sergeant-at-arms.