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.