A posh house in Nairobi's leafy suburbs of Loresho worth KES40 million, and two five-storey flats in Suna East area valued at KES58 million are some of the properties surrendered by scandal-hit former Migori County Governor Okoth Obado in a plea bargain stemming from a 2021 corruption suit.

In an update on Friday, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) announced the recovery of a total of KES235 million worth of assets from Obado as part of bargain agreement in a corruption case facing the former county boss.

"The DPP has entered into a plea bargain agreement with former Migori County Governor Zachary Okoth Obado and 17 co-accused persons in a corruption case involving the alleged misappropriation of KES73.4 million," the DPP posted on X (formerly Twitter).

According to the head of public prosecutions, the deal follows a formal request by Obado and co-accused to resolve the matter through an "alternative dispute resolution mechanism, as provided for under the Constitution, relevant statutes, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution prosecutorial policies."

Apartments in Nairobi

Other assets surrendered to the State in the agreement are: Sunrise Centre Commercial Block, which is located in Suna East area valued at KES88 million, two apartments in Nairobi's Greenspan zone of an estimate value of KES18 million as well as a massionette in the same spot worth about KES14.5 million.

Additionally, Obado has forfeited a residential property in Kamagambo estimated at KES10 million and two single-storey residential blocks with eight one-bedroom units located at Suna East of an estimated value of KES7.7 million.

Those charged alongside Obado in 2021 for corruption and money laundering were Dan Achola Okoth, Scarlet Susan Okoth, Jerry Zachary Okoth, Everlyne Adhiambo Zachary, Jared Peter Odoyo, Christine Akinyi Ochola, Joram Otieno, and Ochanda Patroba.

Others are Penina Auma, Carolyne Anyango, and several companies, including Misfort Ltd, Tarchdog Printers Ltd, Kajulu Business Ltd, Victorious Investments Ltd, Deltrack ICT Services Ltd, Swyfcon Engineering Ltd, and Dolphus Softwares Ltd.

Money laundering

DPP said the accused were first charged with 25 counts, including conspiracy to commit an economic crime, conflict of interest, and money laundering. Obado and team also faced charges of unlawful acquisition of public property. 

"The charges stemmed from transactions linked to the alleged embezzlement of public funds from the County Government of Migori between 2013 and 2017," noted the DPP.

As part of the agreement, the accused agreed to forfeit assets equivalent to three times the amount in question. They surrendered eight parcels of land and two Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles, with a combined estimated value of KES235.6 million.

The plea bargain was presented before court in line with Section 137A–O of the Criminal Procedure Code and the Criminal Procedure (Plea Bargaining) Rules, 2018. Under Section 137C, plea agreements may be initiated either by the prosecution or the accused.

Obado is also facing another case where he is one of the suspects following the murder of Sharon Otieno, a numiversity student who was murdered in 2018. 

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