The plea taking of Kisumu City Manager Abala Wanga over allegations of forging a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate has been deferred to February 6, 2026, after the defence sought a review of the charges by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Wanga was expected to plead to the charges on Friday December 19,2025 before Milimani Anti-Corruption Court Principal Magistrate Charles Ondieki, but the matter was deferred and the file forwarded to Chief Magistrate Harrison Barasa for further directions.
Prosecutors allege that between September 22, 2020, and November 30, 2024, Wanga fraudulently received Sh8,701,091 from the Kisumu County Government while serving as the city manager.
He is also accused of forging a KCSE certificate bearing serial number 268532 and presenting it to the Kisumu County Public Service Board to secure employment.
Appearing before Magistrate Barasa, Wanga’s lawyer Steve Ogola told the court that the defence had formally written to the DPP seeking a review of the charges before the plea is taken.
“We have written to DPP through a letter dated November 26, 2025, requesting intervention by way of recalling the file and satisfying his file and making it complete and ready for plea, but we are yet to receive a response on the same,” Ogola told the court.
Counsel further faulted the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for what he termed as incomplete investigations, arguing that key witnesses had not been interviewed.
“In our letter to EACC we have noted that they have failed to interview the following officials, namely 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 even Abala’s own secretary,” Ogola added.
The prosecution confirmed receiving the request for review and asked the court for seven days to issue directions on the matter.
In a ruling delivered on December 3, 2025, Magistrate Barasa made it clear that the court could not dictate how investigations should be conducted by investigative agencies.
“From the onset this court must emphasise that it cannot instruct any investigating agency, including the EACC, on the manner in which it should carry out its investigations. Such authority is granted to the office of the DPP,” Magistrate Barasa ruled.
The magistrate further noted that the State had already completed investigations and prepared charge sheets, which formed the basis for scheduling the plea taking.
“Upon listening to the prosecution in this case, investigations into this matter have concluded, and that is the reason the charge sheets in both cases were drafted and filed. However, the defence counsel has informed the court that he has written to the DPP and that his letter, part of which was read out to this court, has raised some issues touching on the complaint they have raised before this court,” he stated.
The matter will be mentioned on February 6, 2026, when directions on plea taking are expected to be issued.
