By Andrew Kariuki

A court has directed Kisumu City Manager Abala Wanga to personally appear for plea taking, warning that a warrant of arrest will be issued if he fails to attend.

The directive follows an application by his defence lawyer, Steve Ogolla, who sought what he described as a final adjournment to allow the accused to present himself before the court.

Wanga is facing multiple charges, including forgery and fraudulent acquisition of public funds.

The prosecution, led by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), opposed the request, raising concerns over a medical report presented to explain the accused’s absence.

According to the prosecution, the report was dated February 25, 2026, and indicated that Wanga had been advised to take 14 days of bed rest due to a headache. However, prosecutors argued that the document did not provide details of any follow-up consultation and did not establish that the accused remains unwell.

They further told the court that the recommended period of rest had already elapsed and could not justify his continued absence from proceedings.

On the status of the charges, the prosecution said it had consulted the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which declined to review the case, maintaining that there was no error in charging the accused over alleged abuse of office. The prosecution added that a formal written response from the DPP could be provided if required.

In his directions, Magistrate Harrison Barasa ordered that the medical documents be examined to verify their authenticity.

The court also directed the prosecution to clarify whether there is any ongoing review of the charges.

The matter is set for mention on April 9, 2026, with the court ordering that Wanga must appear in person for plea taking or face arrest.