After around 15 hours in police custody, Head of Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Erick Onchana was on Wednesday released.
The long time County Secretary was arrested on Tuesday evening following warrant of arrest issued by a Kericho court after the county failed to pay a former employee who had won a suit against government.
Lawyer Jones Nyachiro facilitated payment of Sh1.6 million owed to Mr Alloys Moseti, a former political advisor to Governor John Nyagarama, who was dismissed from service in 2014.
"We have processed most of the things and he will be released shortly. It was just a miscommunication otherwise he shouldn't have been arrested.
"Our able lawyer Jones Nyachiro has argued in his favour but it was not contempt of court as media puts it. He will return home shortly," his aide George Momanyi said on phone from Kericho.
Mr Onchana was pounced on by officers hours to 4pm local time and was locked up in Nyamira Police Station where he spent a night.
On Wednesday morning, he was driven to Kericho where he answered charges on obstruction of justice, a case which the court however cancelled after the payment.
Officials from the county government of Nyamira hastily paid Sh1.6 million and presented receipts to Kericho High Court.
"It shouldn't have gone this far though. It's good because next time they must promptly pay such money once ordered by the court," he added.
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