Magistrate disqualifies himself in Samburu governor corruption case

Douglas Ogoti, the now-famous anti-corruption court chief magistrate, has disqualified himself from hearing Samburu Governor Moses Lenoolkulal’s case following bias claims against him by the defense legal team.

The lawyers, led by Paul Nyamodi, cited an interview the magistrate gave a local newspaper on the case facing the governor and his co-accused, which the lawyers say demonstrated that Ogoti had a predetermined outcome about the case.

Nyamodi, who submits that the article was published in bad faith and goes against the judicial conduct of a judge or magistrate, also wants the magistrate not to preside over the plea taking of the other accused persons, arguing he would not be fair.

Plea taking by the other accused persons in the governor’s case has been postponed as they will now appear before chief magistrate Lawrence Mugambi, who will give a new date.