Kisumu City Manager Michael Abala Wanga has again failed to appear in court for plea taking in his Sh 8 million graft case.
His lawyers told Senior Principal Magistrate Celesa Okore that Wanga is unwell and admitted in hospital.
The defense requested for an adjournment and a mention date in four weeks time to update the court on his health status.
Lawyer Steve Ogolla asked the court to extend Wanga’s bond terms until a time when he will be fit enough to appear in court.
The prosecution asked the court for two weeks to enable them to verify the medical documents availed by the defense.
The magistrate directed the matter to be mentioned 2nd March 2026 for further directions before the trial Magistrate Harrison Barasa.
She also directed the defense to avail comprehensive medical report during the mention.
In the case, Abala Wanga is being accused of forging a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and fraudulently acquiring Sh8,701,091 from the Kisumu County Government between September 22, 2020, and November 30, 2024, while serving as Kisumu City Manager.
It is alleged that Abala uttered and presented the forged certificate to the Kisumu County Public Service Board in order to secure employment.
Through his lawyer Steve Ogolla, Abala told the court that they had written a letter to the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) seeking review of the charges against him but are yet to receive a response from ODPP.
In the letter, Abala claims that the investigators have failed to interview key Kisumu County officials including the County Human Resource Director, the Kisumu City Human Resources Officer, the County Payroll Manager, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, the County Travel and Logistics Officer, and his own secretary.
The prosecution confirmed receipt of the letter requesting review of the charges and sought seven days to issue formal directions.
