Youthful politician William Oduol faces wife battering probe

William Oduol. Photo: Courtesy

 

By HUDSON GUMBIHI

Kilimani police have confirmed they are investigating allegations of assault against a youthful politician, who made headlines in the March 4 General Election.

City resident William Oduol captured the imagination of the nation in the run-up to the elections in his bid for Siaya governorship when he challenged the hold of the Odinga family in Luo Nyanza politics.

But, based on police records seen by The Nairobian, the new kid on the block is now facing damaging allegations after his wife, Christine Atieno Opondo, filed a complaint at the Kilimani Police Station. Oduol’s daughter also recorded allegations of assault against her father.  The incident allegedly took place in the couple’s Nairobi home on August 18 at 4am.

Kilimani Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) Peter Katam said both alleged victims had been issued with P3 forms but were yet to return them.

“I can confirm we are investigating the complaint,” said the OCPD.

Police records indicate that Christine alleges she sustained injuries on the right cheek, the head and ribs. Oduol’s daughter claims she was hit on the head and right hand. 

Oduol’s publicised CV indicates he is the current CEO of Westcon in Pan Emerging Africa, a firm he claims has a revenue turnover of over Sh12 billion. He has also previously held senior positions at the Nairobi offices of Microsoft and Coca Cola.

In his political debut this year Oduol opposed a decision to have Oburu Odinga run unopposed in Siaya on an ODM ticket. The party, however, barred both prospective candidates. Oduol then defected to the little known National Agenda Party of Kenya but was beaten by Rasanga Amoth of ODM on March 4. An ongoing election petition he filed at the High Court in Kisumu against the governor is to be determined this month.

Oduol’s personal life has also been dragged into the electoral petition. For example, even though he had sworn an affidavit that he only had one wife, Christine, and three children, the politician was forced to admit that he had sired a child out of wedlock with Nancy Oluoch. He eventually admitted that Nancy was his former girlfriend and “the mother of one of my children”.

Earlier this year controversial blogger Robert Alai got into legal trouble with the politician after posting online photographs of a woman with bloody facial injuries. The blogger identified the woman as Nancy and claimed she had been battered by Oduol but had unsuccessfully sought justice. Alai was arrested in May and recorded a police statement. Oduol went to court to block the blogger from publishing further defamatory statements. The latest allegations put the politician in the spotlight

Contacted by The Nairobian this week, Oduol denied he assaulted his wife and blamed his political rivals. “Can’t you see the timing is curious since the petition is about to be determined?” he posed.