A court has ordered Kisumu City Manager Abala Wanga to personally appear before it for plea taking, warning that a warrant of arrest will be issued if he fails to attend.
The directive was issued after Wanga’s defence lawyer, Steve Ogolla, asked the court for what he termed a final adjournment to allow his client time to present himself before the court. Prosecutors from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) opposed the request, questioning the medical report that had been presented to explain the accused’s absence from court.
The prosecution told the court that the medical document was dated April 25, 2026, and stated that Wanga had been advised to take 14 days of bed rest due to a headache. However, the EACC argued that the report did not indicate any follow-up consultation date and did not show that the accused was still unwell.
According to the prosecution, the period recommended by the doctor had already lapsed and therefore could not be relied upon to justify continued absence from court. The prosecution further informed the court that it had consulted the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) on the charges facing the city manager.
They said the Director of Public Prosecutions declined to review the case and maintained that there was no mistake in charging Wanga over alleged abuse of office. The court was told that a formal written response from the DPP could be produced if required. In his directions, Senior Principal Magistrate Harrison Barasa ordered that the medical documents presented in court be examined to determine their authenticity.
The magistrate also directed the prosecution to indicate whether the charges against the accused are still under review. The case will be mentioned on April 9, 2026, when Wanga is expected to appear in person for plea taking.
Abala, according to court documents, faces charges of fraudulently obtaining Sh8,701,091 from the Kisumu County Government between September 22, 2020, and November 30, 2024, during his tenure as City Manager. Additionally, he is accused of forging and presenting a KCSE certificate bearing serial number 268532 to the Kisumu County Public Service Board to secure his position.
The court warned that failure to attend will result in the issuance of a warrant of arrest against him.
