House of cards! Photos of Governor Obado's Ksh 34m Loresho mansion embroiled in corruption investigation

Piece by: star.writer
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Migori Governor Okoth Obado surrendered to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission in Kisii on Wednesday and is set to be arraigned today alongside his four children.

Anti-graft detectives have unearthed an intricate web of transactions where he received millions in kickbacks from county suppliers.

Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji said on Tuesday investigations revealed the cash was used to pay school fees, upkeep, maintenance and medical bills for the governor's children studying in Australia, Scotland and the United Kingdom.

“Some of the said monies were traced to have bought two motor vehicles of make, Toyota Land Cruiser V8,” the DPP said.

A dossier from the EACC, obtained exclusively by the Star, details how Sh38.9 million of county cash was wired directly to Obado’s children from major suppliers said to be the governor’s proxies.

The same suppliers bankrolled the purchase of a Sh34.5 million house in Nairobi's upmarket Loresho Estate where Obado’s daughter, Evelyne Adhiambo Zachary, is collecting rent.

The architect of the alleged theft is said to be Jared Oluoch Kwaga — a mysterious man unknown to many — who used five members of his family, including his wife and mother.

All the five, alongside their 12 companies that are said to have received tenders worth more than Sh2 billion from the Migori county government, will be prosecuted.

Documents in the Star's possession show that at one point, Kwaga was paid Sh139.9 million through his various firms. He then wired it to his personal Cooperative Bank Account from where he sent Sh15.6 million directly to Obado’s three children.

Achola Dan Okoth received Sh11.3 million, Susan Scarlet Akoth Sh1.9 million and Jerry Zachary Okoth Sh2.3 million.

The three will be charged alongside their father and sister Evelyne Zachary.

Deltrack ICT Services owned by Joram Opala, Kwaga’s brother, was paid Sh30.6 million. He then wired Sh10.8 million to Achola.

Three of the firms associated with the Kwaga family were also paid Sh163.5 million by the Migori government.

Obado’s proxies received Sh2.5bn in tender scams

The EACC said the suspects should be forced to refund Sh1,971,179,180 obtained from Migori county and forfeit to the government the 65 properties frozen by the court.

Of the 65 properties, the High Court put a caveat on 42 belonging to Kwaga, excluding 17 he transferred after detectives raided his home in early 2018.

The Star/ Felix Olick