City Manager Directed to Appear in Court for Plea Taking

City
Kisumu City manager Abala Wanga has been directed to personally appear before the court for plea taking, warning that a warrant of arrest will be issued if he fails to attend.

The directive follows an application by his defense lawyer, Steve Ogolla, who sought what he described as a final adjournment to allow the accused to present himself in court.

The city manager faces multiple counts of forgery and fraudulent acquisition of public funds.

The prosecution, led by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), opposed the request, raising concerns over a medical report that had been presented to explain the accused’s absence.

According to the EACC, the report was dated February 25, 2026, and indicated that Wanga had been advised to take 14 days of bed rest due to a headache. However, prosecutors argued that the document did not specify any follow-up consultation date and did not demonstrate that the accused is still unwell.

They told the court that the period recommended by the doctor had already lapsed and therefore could not justify continued absence from court.

On the issue of the charges, the prosecution said it had consulted with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which declined to review the case. The DPP maintained that there was no mistake in charging the accused over alleged abuse of office. The prosecution added that a formal written response from the DPP could be furnished if required.

In his directions, the presiding magistrate Harrison Barasa ordered that the medical documents be subjected to examination to determine their authenticity.

The court further directed the prosecution to indicate whether it is still reviewing the charges.

The matter will be mentioned on April 9, 2026, with the court ordering that Wanga must appear in person for plea taking, failing which a warrant of arrest will be issued.

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