Migori Governor Okoth Obado has kept silent despite his name being adversely mentioned as a person of interest in the gruesome murder of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno.
Instead, Mr Obado has chosen to react to the allegations through his press secretary Nicholas Anyuor, despite the weight of the matter.
Mr Anyuor, on Thursday insisted that the governor’s political opponents could be behind his current woes.
Mr Anyuor said he no longer wished to be quoted on the matter going forward. He insisted that Mr Obado will only comment if he is required to do so by the police.
Nyanza regional DCI boss Michael Barasa on Thursday did not confirm or deny that they will interrogate Mr Obado over the murder. Mr Barasa, however, noted that they were concerned by Mr Obado’s communication secretary’s utterances, which he noted may compel them to question him.
“We have noted the official has been making comments on behalf of the governor over this matter and if need be, we shall also question him,” said the official.
Mr Anyuor had initially stated that: “associating the governor with this incidence (sic) could be a political ploy meant to tarnish his name”
But Mr Barasa said it was only fair for the officer to give details of his thoughts.
Asked whether they would question Mr Obado for being a person of interest in the case, the DCI boss said: “At the moment I cannot comment on that because there are channels of investigation. We don’t want to make comments that may prejudice the ongoing process.”
“Our team from Nairobi is working with us to unravel the mystery surrounding the death and abduction.”
It is said Mr Obado may have shelved his trip to Rwanda to attend the event following the ongoing investigations into the murder of Ms Otieno. “It is true the governor was to represent the CoG at the event in Rwanda but I cannot authoritatively tell you about his whereabouts. Let your Nairobi team check for him in the city (Nairobi),” a source familiar with the Rwanda trip told Nation.
From Migori County, another source revealed that the governor was last seen in office last week and that he travelled to the city on Monday in readiness for his Tuesday travel to Rwanda.
Monday is the day Ms Otieno and Mr Oduor were abducted. Mr Anyuor, the governor’s press secretary, on Thursday remained cagey over his whereabouts.
The official said he could not comment on the governor’s locations but only respond to any queries directed to him. “Why do you want to know where the governor is? I am his press secretary and whatever I tell you is his response,” Mr Anyuor said.