Will Migori governor Okoth Obado survive to see the end of his term?
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has begun seeking logbooks of two Toyota Landcruisers and rent from Sh143,000 a-month Loresho home belonging to Governor Obado.
Even though the vehicles and the home were frozen last year, the anti-graft agency says it is fearful Mr Obado or his agents might sell or transfer them. This may defeat plans to forfeit them to the government.
Okoth Obado, the Migori Governor was charged in court in August last year over fraud allegations, and now the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission is going a step further.
In a High Court petition certified as urgent, EACC wants Obado, his four children Evelyne Adhiambo Zachary, Dan Achola Okoth, Scarlet Susan Okoth and Jerry Zachary Okoth and 16 other proxies and companies enjoined in a suit seeking to recover the sum total of Ksh.73.5 million which it says was stolen by the accused through fictitious or irregular contracts.
Others who have been enjoined in the case are Jared Peter Odoyo kwaga, 13 companies as well as Oliver Okeno Odhiambo.
Pending the determination of the case, EACC wants to be allowed to seize and sell the vehicles and the proceeds be deposited in a joint income earning account. In case they fail to deliver the logbooks. EACC proposes, the monthly rent should also be deposited in a joint account.
The commission is seeking to recover Sh73.4 million assets, which is the cash spent or being held by Mr Obado and his relatives or proxies. It argues they are proceeds of corruption and economic crime.
EACC said Mr Obado together with some of his relatives and proxies registered several companies for the sole purpose of procuring contracts from Migori county government, through fictitious or irregular contracts.
In return, Mr Obado allegedly benefited from the contracts through monies wired to his children for their school fees and upkeep in universities abroad and purchase of properties and the vehicles.
EACC investigations reveal that Sh38.9 million was allegedly wired to Obado’s children Scarlet Okoth, Jerry Zachary and Dan and a balance was used to acquire the vehicles.
In what was used for the purchase of the house at Loresho, another Sh34.5 million was traced to Kenya Power Pension Fund, which The companies were owned by close members associated with Obado and Jared Peter Kwaga’s relatives.
Mr Kwaga’s five relatives, Mr Obado and his five children- Dan, Scarlet Akoth, Jerry and Everlyne have been charged with conspiracy to commit economic crime and money laundering. EACC said that the tenant pays rent to Everlyne.
