He is being missed by many, especially by those who followed National Assembly proceedings when he was Member of Parliament (MP).
The former Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo, known in political circles as Otada (one with a lot of energy) was an articulate debater, and a big defender of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Amollo Odinga.
The now broke Midiwo is pleading with the courts to allow him to settle a Sh 1.7 million election petition cost in Sh 50, 000 instalments.
The vocal politician was slapped with a cost of Sh 1,716, 820 after losing the petition against his successor Elisha Odhiambo’s victory and only paid Sh 500, 000 only.
Midiwo is paying a similar amount to IEBC and the returning officer for Gem constituency after he lost the case last year.
He applied for release of the cash he had deposited as security while filing the case against Odhiambo and the electoral agency.
“After the Sh500,000 security fees were released to the respondent and the sum of Sh1, 216,820 is now due from the petitioner,” read the court papers filed by Midiwo.
The former MP was required to complete the payment in 30 days from February 13, 2019, when Odhiambo filed his bill of costs.
Midiwo moved to a court in Kisumu on March 14 seeking orders allowing him to pay the remaining Sh 1, 216, 820 in small amounts.
Hearing of Midiwo’s application was certified urgent and hearing started yesterday.
“The applicant [Midiwo] is unable to pay the taxed sum at once and yet the 30 days stay of execution is to lapse on March 13, 2019,” Midiwo states in court papers.
He is seeking court’s intervention to allow him to clear the debt in instalments of Sh50,000 every month until such a time that all the money is settled.
“I’m a pensioner receiving Sh 125, 000 monthly before tax and my family depends on the same pension for upkeep as it is our main source of livelihood,” Midiwo states in a supporting affidavit.
“I make this affidavit in support for leave to liquidate the costs by monthly instalments,” the former legislator said in the affidavit.
Odhiambo on March 17 instructed Nyaluoyo auctioneers to urgently attach Midiwo’s property for failure to settle the outstanding balance of Sh 1, 216, 820 which is the pending election petition cost.
“Kindly and urgently proceed with the execution of the warrants of attachment and sale in respect of Sh1, 216, 820 being our costs as taxed against the petitioner herein,” Odhiambo instructed the auctioneer in a letter by his lawyer, Oruenjo Kibet and Khalid Advocates.