Judge badly shames NASA Governor over bribery attempt

juma chrispinus

November 15, 2017 1:13 PM

The governor's victory was challenged in court.

Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga was on Wednesday badly embarrassed by a High Court judge who claimed that the governor has been making endless moves to bribe her.

Divulging the jab during a hearing of a petition which was filed by former Rarieda Constituency lawmaker Mr Nicholas Gumbo, High Court Judge Mrs Esther Maina warned the duo against making unnecessary attempts to bribe her.

"As a state officer, I cannot agree to receive a bribe in a bid to compromise my judgement on this matter," Justice Esther Maina told the parties on Wednesday.

"I will not receive money from any hierarchy, advocate or colleague," she added, quipping that she would eventually report the matter to the Eliud Wabukala led Ethics and Anticorruption Commission.

The new revelation by the judge comes in the wake of an earlier spat that was witnessed in the court after Governor Rasanga’s lawyer claimed that Nicholas Gumbo’s witnesses were using witchcraft in court to influence the outcome of the petition.

Mr Rasanga's lawyer, Mr Nicholas Ombija complained to Justice Esther Maina that Gumbo's supporters sprinkled strange liquid around the court room.

"My client is not comfortable with these things they are chewing," Mr Ombija said.

The accusations were dismissed by Gumbo’s lawyer, Mr Ogutu Mboya who termed them as far-fetched.

"I am the one who informed my learned friend Ombija about the incident," Mr Mboya argued, but the judge ordered the witness to stop chewing.

Meanwhile, Justice Maina on Wednesday adjourned the sitting until Monday next week after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), through its lawyer Mr Raymond Olendo, failed to produce all the data required by the petitioner.

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