A Homa Bay man is on trial for stealing a UDA election gadget

In a court in Homa Bay, a man was charged with assaulting a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) official and robbing him of an electronic gadget used by the party to conduct civic elections.

Robert Ongaro was accused of using force to take away a gadget from an official, identified as Godwin Okello, during the first phase of the UDA grassroots elections.

The court heard that the accused was part of a group of people who entered a polling station and attacked UDA polling officials before robbing the official last month.

Ongaro was charged with two charges, including aggravated robbery.

Robbery involving people convicted of violence is punishable by death.

First, the court was told that on April 26, when the UDA was holding primary elections, Ongaro, along with others who were not present in court, forcibly robbed Okello.

The court found that they violated Art. 296 section 2 of the Penal Code.

“You were charged with the fact that on April 26, 2024, at 2:30 p.m., at Ongeti Primary School in Omoya, Kagan, together with other persons not in court, armed with sticks, you stole from Godwin Okello of the UDA and stole (a) gadget serial number 202404035 marked as Homa Bay/Rangwe/Kochia/Ongeti Primary School, property of UDA and a mobile phone, property of Gordon Okello and used violence against the person,” the charge sheet reads.

The suspect was also charged with causing confusion and acting in a manner likely to disturb the peace, contrary to Art. 95 section 1 letter b) Penal Code.

The charge sheet also accused Ongaro of assaulting a returning UDA officer.

He denied both charges when he appeared before Homa Bay Chief Magistrate Joy Wesonga.

The prosecutor’s office called five witnesses in the case.

The matter will be discussed on June 11, 2024, and the hearing has been scheduled for June 19, 2024.