By Peter John
The Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi has postponed the plea-taking of Kisumu City Manager Abala Wanga to December 19, 2025, in a case where he is accused of forging academic documents and fraudulently receiving millions of shillings from the Kisumu County Government.
According to the charge documents, Wanga is expected to face counts related to the alleged forgery of a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate—serial number 268532—which investigators claim he used to secure employment with the Kisumu County Public Service Board.
He is further accused of unlawfully obtaining Ksh 8,701,091 from the county between September 22, 2020, and November 30, 2024, during his tenure as City Manager.
Wanga’s lawyer, Steve Ogola, informed the court that the defence had formally written to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on November 26, 2025, seeking a review of the intended charges.
He argued that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), which investigated the matter, had failed to interview several crucial county officials.
Among those the defence claims were never questioned include 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 Wanga’s secretary.
“We have requested the DPP to call for the file and ensure that the investigations are fully concluded before any plea is taken,” Ogola told the court, adding that the defence is still awaiting a formal response from the prosecution.
The DPP confirmed receipt of the request and sought seven days to issue directions on the concerns raised by the defence team.
Delivering his ruling on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, Chief Magistrate Harrison Barasa made it clear that the court had no authority to interfere with the operational independence of investigative bodies.
“This court cannot instruct any investigating agency, including the EACC, on how it should conduct its investigations. That mandate lies with the office of the DPP,” Barasa stated.
He added that, based on submissions from the prosecution, investigations had already been concluded and two charge sheets prepared—prompting the expectation that the accused would take plea.
“However, the defence has indicated that they have written to the DPP raising issues on the investigations, which the prosecution has acknowledged. In light of that, the plea will not be taken today,” he ruled.
Wanga is now scheduled to return to court on December 19, 2025, for plea-taking once the DPP issues directions on the defence’s concerns.
