DPP orders Governor Obado, children arrested over loss of Sh73m

The Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji has ordered the arrest and prosecution of Migori Governor Okoth Obado and his children for what he called misappropriating Sh73 million public funds.

In a statement, Haji said he was satisfied there was enough evidence to arrest and charge Obado (pictured), his sibling and children for misappropriation of county funds.

The DPP said the governor's actions allegedly led to the loss of more than Sh73.4 million.

Obado is reported to have indirectly received over Sh73 million through his children who received multiple payments from companies trading with Migori county government.

According to a statement released by the office of the DPP, an audit trail of the money paid to various companies led persons closely related to Governor Obado.

“Obado indirectly and in a conflict of interest received a benefit totalling to Sh73, 474, 376 million from companies and businesses that trade with the county government,” read the statement.

Some of the companies used to fleece county funds include Misoft Company Limited, Tarchdog Printers, Deltrack ICT Service, Seletrack Consultants, Mactebac Contractors, Joyush Business, Atinus Services, Kajulu Business, Swyfcon Engineering, Victorius Investments, Dolphus Softwares, Dankey Press and Pesulus Services.  

 According to the DPP, investigations revealed that the directors of the companies were proxies of the governors including his three brothers who wired the money back to Obado’s children bank accounts.

Sh34 million, which is part of the loot was used to purchase a house in Loresho Ridge for Evelyne Adhiambo Zachary, Obado’s daughter.

Others were used to buy high-end cars and to educate his children in Australia, Scotland and the United Kingdom.

The charges emanate from investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission early this year.