Oparanya wants EACC ordered to release Ksh.2M seized from his home during raid

Former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has asked the court to direct the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to return Ksh.2 million seized from his home during a recent raid.

Oparanya, through his lawyers Davis Osiemo and Felix Tinga, told the court that the said amount was meant to pay school fees for his child.

”The search warrants were clear, they went and collected money that was not supposed to be collected," lawyer Osiemo argued.

However, EACC objected to the application saying it has not yet established the source of the funds.

“We have not established if it's school fees…we simply need to verify…for the contentious issue of money, we will have to wait,” the commission submitted.

“The court is saying Ksh.2 million is little amount to Oparanya, but it is a significant amount to the people of Kenya. Give us time to probe."

The court directed the parties to meet on Monday, when the former Kakamega County boss will be questioned about the money.

Mention of the matter was set for Tuesday next week for further directions, with the anti-graft watchdog also telling the court that it had already released 10 gadgets and over 100 documents to Oparanya as previously directed.

In the case, Oparanya was last month questioned by EACC detectives alongside his spouses in relation to the alleged embezzlement of Ksh.1.3 billion during his two-term tenure as Governor of Kakamega County.

The commission, at the time, said investigations had revealed that public funds were unlawfully acquired through proxies and associates during Oparanya’s tenure.