Kisumu Senator Fred Outa and former Kisumu deputy governor Ruth Odinga when they disrupted IEBC training in Kisumu, November 23, 2017. [Photo/Roberto Muyela]
Kisumu Chief Magistrate Julius Nga’rng’ar on Tuesday lifted arrest warrants issued on Monday to Kisumu Senator Fred Outa and former Kisumu deputy governor Ruth Odinga for failing to appear in court.
The duo did not show up for the mention of a case on Monday where they were charged with disrupting IEBC training.
The two appeared on Tuesday before the chief magistrate where their lawyer Godfrey Yogo argued that Outa missed a plane from Nairobi to Kisumu while Odinga was taken ill to the hospital three days ago.
Yogo made the application to the court to lift the warrants which the chief magistrate obliged.
Nga’rng’ar released the accused based on the initial bond terms.
He, however, sent out a warning to the accused that they risk facing serious consequences should they fail again to adhere to the court calendar.
Outa and Odinga are facing five counts that include amongst others entering in an electoral area designated by IEBC without authority.
The accused had been arraigned in court on 23rd October this year and denied the charges and were released on personal bonds of Sh500,000 each.
The chief magistrate has set 28th November this year for the resumption of the case where he intends to give the next orders.