Charges Against Controller of Budget Nyakang’o are Frivolous – Raila

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance coalition party leader Raila Odinga says the charges against Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o are “frivolous”.

In a statement, the former prime minister said the accusations levelled against Ms Nyakang’o are meant to push her out of office in favour of a “user friendly holder of the office, who will support and sanitize the looting currently underway “.

According to Raila, the accusations which he said did not come as a surprise to the opposition are merely a political witch-hunt.

The ODM party leader urged Ms Nyakang’o to remain steadfast in “defence of integrity, professionalism and the dictates of good governance”.

“Her tribulations are politically motivated witch hunt, which EACC will find difficult to convince Kenyans about, at a time Kenyans are wreathing under full-blown corruption,” Raila said.

“We encourage Nyakang’o to remain strong in defence of integrity, professionalism and the dictates of good governance.”

Nyakang’o was charged with four counts including conspiracy to defraud, operating an unlicensed Sacco, forgery, and uttering false documents.

She pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was released on a Sh500,000 cash bail or a Sh2 million bond.

The accountant was arrested in Mombasa following complaints filed against her and 10 others over allegations dating back to 2016.

They are accused of conspiracy to defraud contrary to Section 317 of the Penal Code, operating a Sacco without a licence Contrary to Section 24 as read with Section 66 of the Sacco Societies Act, 2008, forgery and uttering a false document c/s 353 of the Penal Code.