Governor Wycliffe Oparanya to face assault charges as petition rejected

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya. (Photo: Chrispen Sechere)

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya will now face criminal charges for allegedly assaulting a rival's supporter eight years ago. The move comes after the governor's efforts to block his prosecution were rejected by two superior courts.

Mr Oparanya will on Monday appear in a Butere court to face charges of assaulting John Ojwan'g Waka on April 17, 2008, in Mabole. The complainant was a political supporter of his political rival.

His petition filed at Kakamega High Court to contest the charge was dismissed with costs for lacking merit, allowing the Butere lower court to go on with trial.

His appeal

But just before the lower court picked a date for trial, the governor filed an appeal at Kisumu Court of Appeal before justices David Maranga, Daniel Musinga and Gatembe Kairu who equally dismissed it on July 29, 2016.

Butere court Thursday issued the summons to have the ODM deputy party leader appear before it to take a plea.

On November 17, this year, Mr Oparanya will appear in a Kakamega court to plead to "incitement to violence" charge. This after yet another summons was issued Thursday from the Kakamega court where the charge he wanted thrown out for being "defective" will be read to him.

He is accused of having incited mourners to burn houses and cause injuries to Wilsham Malele, Emilly Maika, Roseline Linet and George Namai."

Mr Oparanya's bid to stop the said charge until it was amended was dismissed on July 28, this year, before Kakamega High Court judge Ruth Sitati.