The Director of Public Prosecutions, Renson Ingonga, has announced plans to withdraw corruption charges against former Migori Governor Okoth Obado.
Speaking to the court on Monday, September 1, the DPP stated that his office had entered into a plea agreement with the former county chief, signaling a potential conclusion to the high-profile Ksh505 million graft case that spanned four years.
The prosecution's move comes after intensive negotiations between Obado's legal team and government agencies.
Court proceedings revealed that discussions have reached an advanced stage, with both the ODPP and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) requesting additional time to finalize the settlement terms.
The case, which has drawn significant public attention since 2020, involves allegations of systematic looting of county resources through fraudulent procurement arrangements.
Read More
Obado, alongside his four children and several associates, faced accusations of orchestrating an elaborate scheme to siphon public funds.
However, the plea bargain arrangement has encountered a significant hurdle. While the DPP announced the agreement, EACC has distanced itself from the deal, stating categorically that it has not endorsed the proposed settlement.
The former governor's legal troubles began in August 2020 when authorities arrested him alongside ten co-accused individuals.
The charges stemmed from allegations that they utilized thirteen shell companies to defraud the Migori County government of substantial amounts during Obado's tenure from 2013 to 2017.
The prosecution accused Obado of multiple offenses, including abuse of office, conspiracy to commit economic crimes, money laundering, and illegal acquisition of public assets.
Specific allegations centered on the misappropriation of approximately Ksh73 million in county funds through fictitious contracts.
As part of the ongoing negotiations, Obado has already agreed to surrender properties valued at Ksh428 million to the state. This partial settlement represents a significant portion of the assets targeted for recovery, though it falls short of the total amount EACC had initially sought.
The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on Friday, when the court is expected to issue a ruling on the proposed plea bargain arrangement.
