EACC Reveals How Migori Governor Okoth Obado Siphoned Sh2 Billion from County Gov't Coffers
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has revealed how Governor Okoth Obado stole Sh2 billion from Migori County government coffers.
In an affidavit filed in court, the EACC says the embattled governor used cronies including his family members to siphon close to Sh2 billion of taxpayers cash.
The EACC says it has evidence showing how Obado used companies registered by his relatives to loot public funds within a period of three years.
The anti-graft agency notes that the companies transacted Sh1,971,179,180 worth of tenders exclusively from the Migori county government.
“The commission received credible information that a few persons well known to be proxies of the governor, registered several companies for the purpose of fraudulent acquisition of public funds through fictitious contracts,” the EACC says.
The body wants Obado and his proxies charged with the abuse of office. The EACC also wants the funds, which are stashed in oversea accounts recovered.
“The commission through its investigations established that the defendants working with county officials holding positions of influence, connived a fraudulent scheme to embezzle public funds through fictitious procurement contracts.”
The anti-graft watchdog says seven members of Obado family registered 16 companies that won multi-million shilling tenders from the county government.
The seven include Jared Oluoch Kwaga, Christine Ochola, Carolyne Ochola, Joram Otieno, Patroba Otieno, Penina Otago and Robert Okeyo. Records show the companies were registered between 2014 and 2016.
The EACC says some of the companies wired the millions to Governor Obado's children bank accounts held in Australia and Scotland.
The six are said to have purchased properties worth Sh382.4 million in a bid to conceal the proceeds of the dubious contracts. Sh55.2 million was also wired to offshore financial institutions in China and Hong Kong.
“When asked to explain the disproportion between the assets concerned and their known legitimate sources, the commission was not satisfied with explanations given,” states the affidavit.
In court documents, the commission says that four days after conducting a search at Kwaga’s home, Obado transferred 17 out of the 59 parcels of land registered in his name to interested parties. The agency says 17 pieces of land were transferred in a single day- March 19th, 2018.
“This is an indication that the he was in haste to defeat the efforts by the commission to recover the property which were acquired from the illicit wealth obtained from the county.”
The latest revelations are likely to further dent Obado's political career given that he is already in court over the murder of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno and her seven-month-old unborn baby.
Comments
You can't be a thief and…
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You can't be a thief and killer all his doing now is lining his lieutenants for cover up nothing will happen to him SHITHOLE country for real !!
Kenya is CORRUPT sick from…
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In reply to You can't be a thief and… by Lavanox (not verified)
Kenya is CORRUPT sick from Village Elder, County Governor, to Country President. We chose them. Shame on us.
And you still are keeping…
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And you still are keeping him in office? Accused of murder and theft of public money and he still goes to the office every morning! This is a joke. But then, it’s Kenya. We reward those who plunder, steal and murder. A
Jurge Are you waiting for…
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Jurge
Are you waiting for this Governor again to give him a bail???????
God will never give a bail if it happens again on the coming case
He is Already out (of jail)…
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In reply to Jurge Are you waiting for… by PETER KAHURA (not verified)
He is Already out (of jail) on Bail.
Haji, get this bugger and…
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Haji, get this bugger and lock him again before he conceals the evidence any further. He is a pathetic leader for real. An embarrassment to the man kind.
This can only happen in a…
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This can only happen in a third world shithole country. Thieverly has now been devolved down to 47 despotic, murderous thieves. I miss the days when theft was centralised in Nairobi.
Why is OBADO still the…
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Why is OBADO still the Governor of Migori County?, And you wonder why some countries are referred to as "SHIT HOLE". Go figure.
You can’t make this stuff up…
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You can’t make this stuff up. If you had to write a paper on Kenya you’d be failed for writing a fictitious piece. And some think that others personal sexual choices are the most pressing issue in Kenya. Better start building an ark coz the flood’s coming.
Where did we go wrong as…
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Where did we go wrong as acountry,and when.It seems like every other day a corruption scandal is unraveled.
I know that not all kenyans are thieves but when our good name is soiled we all feel the "pain".All these thieves who are stealing public funds have no respect for the hard working taxpayers.
Like Obama told kenyans a while ago ,yes corruption is a universal evil but"Your has reached a crisis level".
My interpretation: If out of a population sample of 100,000 two steal,that's bad,if 3steal,that's a concern if 5 steal,this is critical, and if 10 steal,this is a crisis.Right now our crisis is critical.Lets take a poll and see what majority wants as punishment for these thieves.If they say hang them we should do so and not listen to international condemnation ,till all are punished.
If the Ngaritas are behind…
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If the Ngaritas are behind bars, why is Obado and his thieving sons still free? Before the EACC published the report, he should have been arrested. I agree our country has gone to the dogs. A shame. The words of Uhuru to fight corruption fall hollow.
Kenya's leadership is a…
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In reply to If the Ngaritas are behind… by Joe Kamande (not verified)
Kenya's leadership is a Failure from Bottom to Top.
What is he doing outside the…
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What is he doing outside the jailhouse. He should be behind bars immediately. He is a killer and a criminal. All his bank accounts and his families should be frozen. All those transactions he performed should be frozen like yesterday if the government is serious about this totally insane corruption. His ass should be handcuffed in a cell. He is a killer
Unfortunately Kenya’s…
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In reply to What is he doing outside the… by Godhavemercy (not verified)
Unfortunately Kenya’s retributive judicial system is reserved for the underprivileged, the ‘elite’ are above the law. This dude violates all the 10 commandments in a blink of an eye faster than a single breath. Still collecting a paycheck, being fed and protected by tax payer money
Yet God is good for them!…
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Yet God is good for them!. How many God do we have? God for thieves! Shame on them. Thanks to EACC for the good job. We want you to keep it up. This guys think that they are so much fortunate and the Kenyan citizens belong to them and their families, others were sent to God watch, bow, beg them and they must feel shame on them. CORRUPTION! CORRUPTION, This is number one Kenyans enemy. It is the mother of all evil things happening in Kenya and which has been killing our loved citizens.
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