Court proceedings in the corruption case against former Migori Governor Okoth Obado took a dramatic twist on Friday after a man interrupted the session, demanding to be heard.
In a video seen by The Star, the man, who identified himself as Geoffrey Onyango, stood up and asked the court for a chance to address the matter.
When Principal Magistrate Charles Ondieki allowed him to introduce himself, Onyango told the court that he had been following Obado’s corruption case for several days and even approached the court registry,.
He claimed he was told the matter had been settled, after which he later learned that the case was still ongoing, prompting him to seek an opportunity to make a submission.
"A few days ago, I approached the registrar and was told the matter had already been settled, only later to come and find out it has not. So, he advised me to come and write a report because the subject is facing 2 cases," he told the court.
Just as Onyango was preparing to elaborate, Obado himself, who was present in court, interjected.
Visibly agitated, the former governor protested that Onyango was tarnishing his name unfairly.
“They are crucifying me for nothing,” Obado declared while raising his arms and pointing at Onyango.
He insisted he had never seen the man in Migori and questioned his intentions.
"I also have my right. This guy cannot come here; he starts tarnishing my name, knowing very well they crucified me for something I should not have been charged for," he said.
The magistrate attempted to restore order, asking Obado to remain calm and allow the court to proceed.
The man, when pressed by the magistrate, summarised his point by orally submitting that he wished to file an objection to the withdrawal of Obado’s Sh73.4 million graft case, to which the prosecution had sought to settle through a plea bargain.
When asked in what capacity he was raising the objection, Onyango simply responded that he was acting as a citizen of the republic.
The magistrate noted that while anyone had the liberty to pursue their rights, proper procedure had to be followed, and directed Onyango to seek guidance from the registry on how to proceed.
“In the event it lands before me, I will proceed as the law directs,” Magistrate Ondieki said, before asking him to take his seat.
The disruption came against the backdrop of a simmering row between the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over the plea bargain deal involving Obado.
While the ODPP announced, in a statement, it had successfully concluded the deal and recovered Sh235.6 million worth of assets from Obado and 17 co-accused persons, the EACC told the court it had not signed off on the agreement.
The anti-graft agency questioned why the deal was recorded without its formal approval, while the prosecution maintained that EACC officials had actively participated in all negotiation meetings between April and August 2025.
