Tension gripped the Kisumu Law Courts on Tuesday evening when Judge Shariff Mwanaisha suspended a jail sentence for Kisumu County Executive Committee Member(CECM) for Finance, George Okong’o. He was offered the alternative of a Ksh 200,000 fine or two months in jail for contempt of court after allegedly disobeying orders to appear alongside Finance Chief Martin Okode over claims of failing to pay a contractor approximately Ksh 8 million in dues.
During the proceedings on October 29, 2024, Hon. Lady Justice Shariff Mwanaisha ruled, in the presence of advocates for both parties, that the requests to set aside or review the conviction were denied. Okong’o was sentenced to pay a fine of Ksh 200,000 and serve a two-month imprisonment term, which would turn into a three-month custodial sentence if he failed to pay. His sentence was suspended until December 19, 2024. Meanwhile, Okode’s sentence was reduced to two months, allowing for his immediate release unless otherwise held. The court stated there would be no orders as to costs.
The contractor had initially filed the suit to compel the county government to settle his outstanding payment. However, both finance executives allegedly ignored previous court summons, prompting the judge to demand their presence. Okong’o, defended by County Attorney Otieno Aluoka, appeared in court, but after several delays and a crowded courtroom, the final ruling was issued around 5:30 PM.
As the ruling was announced, chaos erupted when police attempted to arrest Okong’o, who was seated next to Deputy Governor Dr. Mathews Owili. Hundreds of supporters, including county officials and youth, surged forward, clashing with police to prevent the arrest. Amid the scuffle, Okong’o was whisked away to Governor Nyong’o’s City Hall office, with police unable to reach him.
The situation escalated, damaging glass doors in the confrontation that moved to Nyong’o’s offices, leaving bystanders in shock. Okong’o sustained minor injuries, while County Attorney Aluoka and Owili watched the clash unfold. After the dramatic standoff, Okong’o’s legal team swiftly processed the court fine to secure his release. Deputy Governor Owili later condemned the incident, urging police to manage such situations with greater professionalism and civility.
A very nice piece, kudos