Mr. Robert Pavel Oimeke’s ongoing case where the MP faces charges of soliciting a bribe from a businessperson has been set aside by the court to August 13, 2021. In the next hearing, the prosecution expects another witness to testify against Mr. Oimeke. The witness is a former Director-General of the Energy Regulation Commission (as was referred to then).
Mr. Oimeke is an accused person in a case where he since denied being in a quid pro quo arrangement with a businessman. According to the particulars of the case, on December 2, 2020, the Bonchari Member of Parliament solicited Ksh. 500,000 bribe from a businessman, Mr. Wycliffe Odhiambo Oyoo. In return, the former Director-General of the Energy Petroleum Regulatory Authority was to issue the businessman authorization for unsealing and opening a petrol station.
The specifics of the case state Mr. Oimeke had been in communication with the businessman. That through the WhatsApp message application, the accused sent a message to Mr. Oyoo asking for the bribe to accept the re-opening of Nyang’inja Filling Station in Oyugis, Homa Bay County.
According to a statement from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the filling station in Oyugis had been previously closed. The petrol station had been closed because it had contravened operational requirements. The owner had managed to pay a fine of Ksh 309,482 to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). However, EPRA refused to issue the petrol station with a re-opening authorization license.
After getting clearance from KRA, the owner went to seek authorization for re-opening from then EPRA Director-General, Mr. Oimeke. It is reported that EPRA had intentionally delayed releasing the authorization prompting the owner to initiate contact with them. It is then that the EPRA sought the quid pro quo arrangement.
Nonetheless, on Thursday, December 10, 2020, the complainant reported the incidence to the EACC. Later in the day, undercover investigators accompanied the complainant to EPRA headquarters with the Ksh 200,000 demanded by Mr. Oimeke. “…After a while, the complainant handed over the Sh200,000 at Mr. Oimeke’s office consequently the approval letter was issued to him after the bribe…” read part of a statement from EACC.
The ODM legislator had been released on a bond of Ksh 700,000 or an alternative cash bail of Ksh 200,000.
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