Economy

Obado proxies fight EACC’s Sh1.97bn Migori theft claim

obado

Migori Governor Okoth Obado. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Seven individuals and 16 companies being probed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission over alleged irregular award of contracts by the Migori County government want a suit filed against them dismissed.

In papers filed in court, the seven led by Jared Peter Kwaga argue that the suit is misconceived because they cannot be held liable for actions they were not responsible for.

They state that the anti-graft body has acknowledged that they were not awarded tenders by Migori County government and they cannot therefore be required to account for the Sh1.97 billion or asked to explain how they acquired more than 50 pieces of land.

In the petition, EACC has named 23 companies it believes were used by Governor Okoth Obado to win several tenders between 2013 and last year, with an accumulated payment of Sh1,971,179,180.

The property being targeted are valued at Sh382,375,000.

In June, Anti-Corruption Court judge Hedwig Ong’udi froze their accounts but last month e unfroze the accounts of Earnest Omondi after he explained how he made the money. Others being probed are Joram Opala Otieno, Patroba Ochanda Otieno, Carolyne Onyango Ochola, Robert Odoyo Okeyo and Christine Akinyi Ochola.

The companies being probed include Swyfcon Engineering, Joyush Business, Dolphus Business, Atinus Services, Dankey Press and Macropharm Pharmaceutical Limited among others.