Two senior county government officials Martin Okode Opiyo and George Okong’o have received apologies from Kisumu County following their sentencing and arrest.
The two top Kisumu County officials were charged and detained for contempt of court.
However, the Acting Chief Officer of Finance Martin Okode Opiyo, and the Finance Executive Committee Member (CEC) George Okong’o, were freed by the court on Tuesday, October 29, leading to an altercation outside the court.
In videos shared online, police officers attempted to arrest Okong’o within and outside the court premises, while other allies protected him from the officers.
Later on Wednesday, the County government apologized to the two officers and their families.
“The County Government unreservedly and sincerely takes this opportunity to apologize to the family of the Acting Chief Officer-Finance Mr. Martin Okode Opiyo.”
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Details of the Case Against the Senior Govt Officials
According to the letter signed by Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathew Owili, the court case dates back to a construction dispute involving a contract awarded over a decade ago.
The case saw Opiyo sentenced to a two-month imprisonment and fined Ksh 200,000 on October 24, 2024. Okong’o was also fined.
The Deputy Governor confirmed that the fines were promptly paid, allowing both officials to regain their freedom.
Owili has insisted that the attempted arrest of Okong’o was not influenced by any county government official.
“There was no incident of attempts by the Senior County Officer in question to run away from the law or in any way subvert the course of administration of justice. The County Government of Kisumu did not hire any person or persons to disrupt judicial processes,” read the statement in part.
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The Public Apology
Consequently, the deputy governor publicly apologized to Opiyo’s family, emphasizing that no government official should endure undue punishment while performing official duties.
He went on to assure all county employees that the administration is dedicated to their protection and committed to ensuring that similar incidents do not recur.
“No government officer should suffer such indignity and punishment in the performance of his official duties.
“We assure all employees of the County Government that we are doing everything possible to ensure that they are fully protected whilst carrying out their duties and that the administration shall ensure that the incident is the first and the last such tragedy ever to face a public servant in the county in the course of carrying out his/her duties,” added the deputy governor.
Moreover, creditors of the county government implicated in the matter have been advised to pursue alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in some of its disputes with the county government.
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