A man accused of blackmailing Kakamega Governor Fernandes Odinga Barasa, allegedly demanding Ksh240 million to prevent the exposure of compromising photos, appeared in court on Tuesday, March 20, 2024, at the Kibera Law Court.
Identified as William Simiyu Matere, also known as Elijah, he purportedly attempted to extort the substantial sum from Governor Barasa, allegedly threatening to release nude images reportedly taken when the governor sought assistance from a witch doctor to secure his gubernatorial victory in the 2022 elections.
During the court session presided over by Chief Magistrate Ann Mwangi, Simiyu pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and demanding property with threats from the Governor. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) informed the court that Simiyu allegedly committed these offenses between December 2023 and March 18, 2024.
Law enforcement investigations revealed that the accused possessed nude photographs of the governor, allegedly leveraging them unlawfully to extort money.
Reportedly, Simiyu initially demanded Ksh270 million from the county leader in December last year, subsequently reducing his demand to Ksh240 million. Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested Simiyu on Tuesday, detaining him at the Kilimani police station pending his court appearance.
During the hearing, Simiyu petitioned the court for reasonable bail terms, asserting his modest financial status. He pledged to comply with all bail conditions if released.
While the prosecution did not object to his release on bond, they urged the court to impose bail conditions commensurate with the alleged offense.
In a brief ruling, Magistrate Mwangi granted Simiyu release on a Ksh2 million bond, requiring a surety of similar value. The case is scheduled for mention in two weeks for a pre-trial hearing.
