Former Gor official spends night in police cell

Josiah Odhiambo Oliech alias ‘Kwaru’ was on Tuesday, March 22, charged with fraud at Kibera Law courts.

Kwaru was arraigned in court after spending a night at Lang’ata Police Station, following his arrest on March 21. The charge sheet read in part: “On unknown date and time at an unknown place within the Republic of Kenya, with intent to deceive and without lawful authority or excuse, you authored made a document namely ‘Notice of Annual General meeting’ to members of Gor Mahia Football Club purporting it to be a notice issued by officials of Gor Mahia Football Club.”

According to the court documents, Ambrose Otieno Rachier is the first complainant on behalf of Gor Mahia FC. The prosecution has also lined up a number of witnesses willing to take the stand against Kwaru.

Ronald Ngala, who is listed as the second witness in his statement, states that Kwaru unlawfully authored a document that was circulated to the masses through print and electronic media purporting to call elections.

Through his lawyers, Kwaru entered a plea of not guilty. The magistrate ordered that he be released on a Sh100,000 bond and a surety of similar amount or cash bail of Sh50,000. The magistrate also ordered that the defense be supplied with copies of witness statements.

Kwaru is required back in court on April 4, 2016, for pre-trial hearings ahead of full trial hearings scheduled to begin July 25, 2016 in court number 5.

Kwaru, a former Gor assistant secretary general had allegedly written a letter to the Commissioner of Sports quoting sections of the club’s constitution and the Sports Act in giving a notice of an Annual General Meeting.

Kwaru’s notice read in part:

“Attention is also drawn to article 13 C of the constitution relating to the nomination of office bearers, together in accordance with the Sports Act of 2015, that the Annual General Meeting of Gor Mahia FC shall be held on the April 3, 2016 at the Nyayo Stadium handball court.”

By 5pm on Tuesday, March 22, 2016, friends and relatives were seen at Kibera Law Courts making frantic calls to well-wishers in a bid to raise the cash bail. Okumu Osoti, one of Kwaru’s closest friends told The Nairobian that they had only managed to raise Sh 20,000.

If Kwaru fails to raise the required amount, he will remain locked up at Nairobi Remand and Allocation Prison in Industrial Area, Nairobi.