Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o has confirmed an initial report enlisting founding Vice-President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga among the people owing the county billions of shillings in unpaid land rates.
In what is likely to culminate in a row between the Kisumu county government's administration and the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga's family, Nyong'o said Jaramogi indeed owes the county Sh7,774,099.
This is reportedly for a piece of land registered under the departed leader's name in Kisumu's Milimani estate as was earlier communicated.
The county first made the announcement in an advertisement in a local daily on November 23, before the governor came out to disown it.
But on Monday, Nyong'o confirmed the claims stating that the family and other defaulters have until January to clear their debts or face punitive measures.
"Kindly note that after January 4, 2019, all rate defaulters who fail to take advantage of the Christmas waiver window (December 19-January 4) shall be subjected to terms and conditions as provided in the notice on the newspaper dated November 23," Nyongo told the Nation.
Consequently, the Oginga family has come out guns blazing against the report.
The report also indicates that the former Vice President's first born son and former Bondo MP Oburu Oginga has a standing debt of Sh295, 743.
Omondi Otieno, one of the late Jaramogi's sons read malice in the announcement.
He said the family will handle the matter accordingly.
"We are law-abiding citizens and if they insist that the notice published on November 23 bearing my late father’s name still stands, then we are ready to pay," Otieno said.
“But if they are playing politics, we shall handle this matter politically as a family," he added.
The latter and his family occupies the Milimani land.