Drama unfolded at the Kisumu High Court on Tuesday evening after the County Finance Boss George Okong'o, narrowly escaped imprisonment.
High Court Judge Lady Justice Shariff Mwanaisha had just suspended Okong’o’s two months sentence, fining him Sh200,000 in contempt of court case related to unpaid dues of Sh16 million owed to Majock Construction Firm.
So far, the county has settled Sh8 million. Justice Mwanaisha suspended Okong’o's sentence until December 19, 2024.
The judge also released his Chief Officer, Martin Okode who had been sentenced the previous week when Okong’o failed to appear in court.
"The sentence of the 2nd respondent is reduced to two months, and the same shall be suspended until.19, December 2024. The respondent shall thus be released forthwith unless otherwise lawfully held," Justice Sharif declared.
Immediately after the ruling and adjourning of the court, just as he was about to step outside the court chambers, Okong’o was stopped by one of the officers in an attempt to arrest him, resulting in a dramatic standoff.
However, it became a push-pull affair when his security details, including his aides who were present in the court for the ruling intervened, leading to a heated scuffle.
The altercation intensified as the crowd made its way down the courthouse stairs, with each side attempting to take control of Okong’o.
The confrontation continued towards City Hall, where Governor Anyang Nyong’o 's office is located. Just outside the City Hall main entrance, when one team pulled the officer to the left, the other pulled him to the right side, with everybody trying to save the officers from the police.
Finally, they managed to get into the building, and the doors were all closed. The standoff saw some doors, and glasses broken, even as the finance officer is said to have sustained minor injuries.
Sources conflicted on the reason for the attempted arrest; while others claimed the officers wanted to take him back into custody, others suggested that Okong’o had not yet formally cleared the court's fines and submitted signed receipts.
Later, the officers, some of whom gained access to the city hall building with the finance boss, were seen leaving.