In the ongoing case where Governor Okoth Obado is accused of swindling county government funds, An investigator of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has presented evidence showing that he awarded contracts worth a total of Ksh. 2.7 billion to six family members.
Obado and his wife Christine Akingi Ochola, as well as their four children are accused of attempting to defraud the county government.
The investigator, Robert Cheruiyot Rono, told the court on Tuesday that most of the 22 companies awarded the tenders are owned by six of Obado’s family members.
The prosecution says that part of the millions of shillings was paid back to Obado as kickbacks through his children.
“We analyzed all contracts and payment schedules and discovered that the majority of the companies were owned by the family members. We will provide documentation to show how each of the accused is related to the companies,” Rono told the court, according to The Standard.
During a court appearance, Obado distanced himself from accusations of acquiring an indirect private interest amounting to Ksh.73,474,376.90 from the county government through his children.
“If any monies were embezzled, fraudulently and illegally obtained from the county government of Migori as alleged, then I was not involved and had no knowledge of such schemes,” said Obado in court papers.
Obado’s children reportedly pocketed Ksh.38,949,376.90 to cater for their school fees and upkeep while studying in Australia, Scotland and the United Kingdom, and purchased two high-end vehicles and a house in Lavington.
