Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga has hit out at the State over the arrest and arraignment of Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o in Mombasa on Tuesday.

Mr. Odinga, in a statement to newsrooms, intimated that Ms. Nyakang’o’s arrest was politically motivated as she has been conducting her duties with diligence, hence presumably stepping on the toes of some higher authorities in government.

While noting that the arrest did not come as a shock to him, the opposition chief went ahead to allege that the Kenya Kwanza administration is seeking to remove Ms. Nyakang’o from office in order to replace her with a perceived friendlier face.

“The arrest was always coming, in light of her determination to act professionally and with integrity in a regime infested by crooks and unprofessional conduct. It was only a matter of when, not if Ms. Nyakang'o was going to be sent packing on frivolous and trumped up charges to create room for a user friendly holder of the office, who will support and sanitize the looting currently underway,” he said.

“Her tribulations are thus politically motivated witch hunt, which the EACC will find difficult to convince Kenyans about, at a time Kenyans are wreathing under full blown corruption.”

The former premier further pledged the opposition politically faction’s full support for Ms. Nyakang’o amid her tribulations, as he urged her to remain steadfast and unbowed.

“We encourage Ms Nyakang’o to remain strong in defense of integrity, professionalism and the dictates of good governance,” stated Mr. Odinga.

“As a party, we stand with Ms Nyakang’o and will offer whatever help we can in the interest of the war against corruption in the country. This struggle will be nasty and long but it is one Kenyans cannot afford to lose. We will lead that struggle from the front.”

Despite Mr. Odinga calling out the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for the arrest, the State agency has since come out to distance itself saying it was not involved in the operation in any way.

Ms. Nyakang’o was arrested in Mombasa for conspiracy to defraud, operating an unlicensed Sacco, forgery, and uttering false documents among other charges.

The arrest came after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) approved multiple criminal charges against her alongside 10 others in a case that has been brewing since 2016.

She was subsequently arraigned in court and released on aKsh.2 million bond, with the option of a similar surety, or a Ksh.500,000 cash bail.