In a statement on Friday, September 5, the DPP confirmed that the recovery marked the conclusion of a corruption case in which Obado and 17 others were accused of misappropriating Ksh73.4 million from the Migori County Government.
As part of the agreement, Obado surrendered assets equivalent to three times the disputed amount. The forfeited property included eight parcels of land and two Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles, collectively valued at Ksh235.6 million.
Among them were the Loresho Ridge House valued at Ksh40 million, the Sunrise Centre Commercial Block in Suna East worth Ksh88 million, two five-storey residential blocks with 40 units in Suna East valued at Ksh57.6 million, two apartments in Greenspan, Nairobi worth Ksh18 million, a mansionette in Greenspan valued at Ksh14.5 million, a residential property in Kamagambo worth Ksh10 million, and two single-storey residential blocks with eight one-bedroom units in Suna East worth Ksh7.7 million.
The recovery followed Obado’s request to resolve the matter through an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism. In exchange, the ODPP agreed to drop the charges against him.
Obado and his co-accused were initially charged in 2021 with 25 counts, including conspiracy to commit an economic crime, money laundering, conflict of interest, and unlawful acquisition of public property. The allegations stemmed from procurement transactions linked to the siphoning of public funds between 2013 and 2017.
The former governor, alongside 13 companies and members of his family, was accused of diverting county funds through fictitious contracts. Four of his children were also implicated after allegedly receiving payments from firms doing business with Migori County.
DPP Renson Ingonga disclosed that the plea bargain was reached after three consultative meetings between the prosecution team, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), and Obado’s defence lawyers.
