This archive report was first published on 23 June 2020.
Former Karachuonyo MP James Rege has breathed a sigh of relief after a Homa Bay court lifted a warrant of arrest against him over misappropriation of Ksh 909,398 CDF funds on June 23, 2020.
The warrant was issued on Friday after Rege failed to appear in court over the misappropriation of funds, which occurred between 2011 and November 28, 2013, when he was the MP for Karachuonyo.
However, Rege's lawyer, Ishmael Nyaribo, told the court that his client had not appeared due to unavoidable circumstances, specifically that he was admitted to Karen hospital in Nairobi for medical care after falling ill.
Nyaribo produced a letter from the hospital indicating that Rege was undergoing treatment and unable to attend court proceedings.
He argued that Rege was already in the hospital at the time he was expected to appear in court on Friday and had not received any summons from the police.
Magistrate Thomas Obutu lifted the warrant on grounds that Rege was unable to appear in court, citing evidence adduced by Nyaribo that the accused person was sick.
Obutu ordered Rege to appear in court on July 14, 2020.
