AN ODM MP IN MIGORI COUNTY IS FACING A TRICKY LEGAL COURT CASE WHICH COULD LOCK HIM OUT OF THE PARLIAMETARY CONTEST.

Writes Bob Ndira-Uradi in Migori Town

An outgoing ODM MP in Migori County is likely to face a tricky civil court case, which could easily lock him out of the parliamentary contest under the Chapter Six of the new constitution unless the matter is resolved in time before the official IEBC nominations.

Cyprian Ojwang’ Omolo, the Uriri MP owed a butchery operator at a local Rapogi Market a colossal amount of money to the tune of Kshs 220,000 for the meat which he and his supporters are reported to have consumed during and thereafter the 2007 general elections.

Omolo owed a businessman Mr Benard Otieno Jobando the sums of Kshs 220,000 which owed the trader at a local Market, which is located near near the MP’s rural home in North Kanyamkago Uriri district, within Migori County.

In a terse demanding note,a Migori –based lawyer S.Odingo has written to the MP giving him an ultimatum to clear the outstanding debt of Kshs 220,000 plus the legal cost of Ksh 20,000 and an interests accrued of Kshs.11,000.

According to the letter written on December 11, 2012 and posted by hand delivery to the MP’s home, the lawyer wrote.”With due respect, we do refer to the above matter and to our letter dated the 17th September 2010 and reference SOO/MIG/DN/BOJ/2010, the content which are well within your knowledge.’

‘You will appreciate that your letter has gone unanswered for years, neither have there been any communications from your side to our client.’

NOTE THAT we are on the verge of instituting same in court of law for determination bearing in mind that the said claimed amount had definitely risen because the interests and costs have accrued.

In light of the above, kindly make the payment of the said amount of Khs 220,000/- plus costs of Kshs 20,000/- and interest of Kshs 11,000/- to our client through this office for onward transmission to him within 7 days from the date thereof.” Says the lawyer’s letter in part.

The Uriri MP could not be reached in time for his comment over the matter.But the complainant Mr Benard Oteno Jobando, who runs a butchery at the local Rapogi Trading Center has confirmed that his effort to approach the MP to offset the debt, which has been outstanding for close to five year have httherock. At first he said the MP had threatened him with a counter legal suit if he persisted with claims when he first raised the matter with his lawyer.

The MP then gave him kshs 10.000 and told him to be patient and that he would settle the bill in due course.

Ends

Here are two copies. One is from a cheque issued by the Uriri Mp in September 2010 in respect for payment for Kshs 220,000 to a butchery oowner which bounced and for which has never paid to cover the debt. Second is a terse letter from the businessman’s lawyer giving the MP an ultimatum to pay the debt within 7 days or face court action.