AUCTION SET FOR FORMER GOVERNOR’S KSH.428M ASSETS

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has announced plans to auction properties worth Ksh428 million that belonged to former Migori Governor Okoth Obado, in efforts to recover misappropriated public funds. EACC CEO Abdi Ahmed confirmed that Obado struck a deal in 2024 in which he surrendered several assets for the anti-graft body to drop cases on unexplained wealth against him, his children, and others. The consent was recorded before High Court judge Esther Maina, where the EACC said they had settled the matter out of court and it did not wish to pursue the two cases of Ksh1.9 billion and Ksh73 million involving unexplained wealth and proceeds of crime against Obado, his four children, businessman Jared Peter Oluoch Kwaga, and his firms.

Ahmed explained that the upcoming auction aims to reclaim public money and act as a warning to other leaders who might misuse their positions. He further noted that fighting corruption remains challenging, not just because of politicians, but due to public support that sometimes shield them. The auction scheduled for Monday, June 23, features a range of prime properties in Nairobi and beyond. These include a Ksh40 million house in Loresho Ridge, a three-bedroom apartment in Riara Road valued at Ksh22 million, two Greenspan Estate units worth Ksh18 million, and a Greenspan maisonette estimated at Ksh14.5 million. Additional properties in Kisumu and Migori will also be auctioned.

 All funds recovered from the auction will be deposited into Kenya’s Consolidated Fund, supporting public services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development. The commission says it has recovered assets worth Ksh28 million over the last five years and is currently pursuing over 400 more corruption cases valued at Ksh50 million.