Kisumu MCA charged with faking his kidnapping
A Kisumu Member of County Assembly has been charged with faking a kidnapping.
Paul Okiri, who appeared before Resident Magistrate Angeline Odawo, denied the charges and was released on cash bail of Sh100,000 or Sh200,000 bond.
Mr Okiri’s alleged kidnapping was reported in September last year by his wife when he failed to return home.
He was charged for giving false information to a person employed in the public service contrary to section 129 (b) of the panel code.
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY
He was further accused of incitement to violence leading to destruction of property.
The court heard that on the September 29, 2016, in Kisumu West Sub County, Mr Okiri, jointly with others who were not before the court, stage-managed his disappearance an act that led to violence hence destruction of property of George Anyonga.
Villagers, who demanded to know the whereabouts of the lawmaker, invaded Mr Anyonga’s home linking him with the kidnapping and destroyed his home.
They also burnt his cars. Mr Okiri’s car was later found dumped next to his gate with doors opened.
DISAPPEARANCE
Two days later, after police announced his disappearance, he appeared and recorded a statement at Kamagambo police station in Rongo, Migori County on how his abductors drove him to an unknown place where he was picked by a boda boda.
According to the charge sheet, Mr Okiri on September 30, 2016 gave false information to police at Kamagambo police station in Rongo Sub County within Migori County that he had been kidnapped.
He was arrested and charged in a Kisumu Law Court.
The case will be heard on March 29, with the mentioning scheduled for February 22.
