Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya (white helmet) lays the foundation stone for construction of a modern market at Malinya, Ikolomani, on March 18. [PHOTO/the-star.co.ke]
The High Court has thrown out a criminal charge against Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya over Senate Public Accounts Committee's complaints that that the governor failed to appear before it.
Giving the ruling, Justice George Odunga said the charges were without legal basis since Oparanya was cleared by his county assembly over misuse of any public funds.
The directive also prohibits Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko against prosecuting Oparanya.
Odunga also held that summons against Oparanya by the Senate do not comply with the law.
“There was already an order stopping the Senate from effecting its summons against the governor — it disobeyed it,” the judge said.
He added that the criminal charges before the chief magistrate’s court now stand terminated.