Migori Governor Okoth Obado’s troubles with the law are far from over after it emerged he was blocked from entering his private home as it falls within a distance of 20 kilometres from the Homa Bay boundary.
High Court judge Jessie Lesiit ruled that Obado should not go beyond 20 kilometres towards Homa Bay county boundaries on all directions. Among the places that fall within the restricted area is his own home in Rapogi, placing a major limitation to his freedom.
Obado was released on Thursday evening after an unexplained hitch in his surety documents hindered his release on Wednesday when he was granted bail.
It was not immediately clear where he stayed after leaving Industrial Area Remand Prison.
Despite his release, the bail conditions will impede the Governor’s movement in and out of the county as most of the roads and airstrips he would use to travel cross the 20 kilometre gap from the borders of Homa Bay County.
For instance, when flying to Nairobi, the County boss has previously used an airstrip in Homa Bay while in other instances, he would use the Kisumu International Airport.
The airstrip is now out of bounds for Obado while the road from Migori to Kisumu passes through Homa Bay county.
Another alternative would be to head to Kisii and then to Kisumu, but the road from Migori to Kisii has some sections breaching the 20 kilometre gap from Homa Bay county.
Unless he appeals the bail conditions, the Governor will either have to use choppers for most of his movement outside Migori county or be permanently domiciled in his office and the official rented residence in Ombo.
He was forced to spend in their one more night after the court granted him bail.
“Pambana na hali yako,” This was the situation in which Obado was subjected to. He was supposed to pay 5million as bail and two sureties of the same amount.
Obado had presented Toyota Prado and Toyota Land Cruiser V8 as sureties but one of them failed to clear.