Obado And His Four Children To Face Fresh Charges As EACC Unearths New Developments In The Heist

Migori Governor Okoth Obado, his children and associates could be far more away from catching a breath according to latest developments in their troubles. Detectives handling the case are wrapping up two more charges according to a news report on Saturday Nation.

Obado will face two more charges, abuse of office and procurement irregularities which will sweep across his accomplices. This will add up to the Thursday’s charges including corruption, conflict of interest, unlawful acquisition of public property and money laundering.

Detectives are following up on up to Sh2.5B embezzled funds which are largely linked to Mr Jared Peter Odoyo Kwaga they key proxy and Chief handler of Obado said to have looted the coffers on the governor’s behalf. The investigations are done in phases and

The Thursday charges which is the first, involve Sh38.9 million that Mr Kwaga used to buy a mansion in Nairobi’s Loresho on behalf of Mr Obado, and Sh34.5 that was sent to the county chief’s children.

“That (Thursday charges) is just one component of the investigation. Initially we were looking at a figure of Sh2.5 billion but the investigation was broken down into many components. The overall investigation is more enhanced; we have gone into many other contracts that were awarded,” EACC detective said to SN.

Kwaga is alleged to have incorporated companies using his family members including his mother and brothers to win county tenders using shadowy companies; Misoft Company Limited, Tarchdog Printers, Mactebac Contractors, Deltrack ICT Services, Seletrack Consultants, Dolphus Softwares, Joyush Business, Swyfcon Engineering, Dankey Press, Atinus Services, Kajulu Business Limited, Pesulus Supplies and Victorious Investments.

Investigations revealed that Kwaga transferred kickbacks from these companies to Obado and his children.

Detectives are also investigating the second set of procurement scam in which another shadowy businessman and a close associate of the governor Ernest Omondi Owino together with his associates Elisha Odhiambo, Janet Otieno Awino, Diana Amanda Muma, Peter Namasake, David Maronga and Robert Marube formed eight companies to win tenders in the County without going through the set regulations.

They used Janto Construction, Marowa Stores, Mbingo Enterprises, Migwish Enterprises, New Team Enterprises, Queeno Investment, Ropeda Construction and Sunae Construction to win  tenders worth Sh861.8 million between 2013 and 2017.

Misoft Company associated with Mr Kwaga was the biggest beneficiary, as it received tenders worth Sh416 million between 2013 and 2017. Sources tell Kenya Insights that while in the first term the relationship between the governor and Kwaga flourished, the two have been at war with  Kwaga clinging to some of the property that Obado had acquired in his name. They’ve been at war.