DPP Haji Explains Why He's Worried About Governor Obado's Release

alfred kiura

November 21, 2018 9:18 AM

DPP Noordin Haji explained why he is worried about governor Okoth Obado's release.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji stated his disapproval in how the courts managed suits against high-profile people.

Referring to the case against Migori Governor Okoth Obado, during an interview in Citizen TV, the DPP maintained that the county boss was granted “wanting” bail terms by the court.

High Profile Cases

Mr Haji queried why the courts allowed State officers to resume office notwithstanding being accused of serious crimes”

“I am actually concerned on this, we have taken cases to court, we have Chief Justice (DCJ) herself. My concern is this. Most of them still remain in office," the DPP stated.

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"And the sad thing is that we still have orders to allow them to enjoy whatever it is and these orders are coming from the courts. Some of the bail terms for example in a particular murder case to do with the governor are wanting," he added.

Platforms to Act Innocent

The DPP noted that Obado was given a platform to make presentations before development partners while facing a murder charge and being probed on corruption.

He added: “We must have standards and those standards need to be applied across board and the courts need to help us.”

Mr Haji maintained that while the assumption of “innocent until proven guilty” was in the law, the same law commissions public officers to step down when indicted with offences until they are absolved of any wrongdoing.

Taking Advantage

“This is about the law. We have tried to make the courts see sense in interpreting this. But you have people going back to the office and using their offices to subvert investigations and legal provisions that have allowed us to charge them,” DPP Haji noted.

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He revealed that he will be petitioning Parliament to review the law and have it be paramount that State officers step down once they are indicted for various crimes.

Governor Obado was released on a Ksh5 million cash bail with two sureties of the same amount in a case where he is charged with the murder of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno.