Migori Governor Okoth Obado devised an intricate web that helped him siphon millions of shillings from the county coffers.
And the Anti-graft detectives unearthed that complex money trail showing how Obado received millions in kickbacks from county suppliers.
A dossier published 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 main cog in the alleged theft wheel is said to be Jared Oluoch Kwaga — a reclusive friend to Obado and who used five members of his family, including his wife and mother.
All the five alongside their 12 companies received tenders worth more than Sh2 billion from the Migori county government.
Documents 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.
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.
After receipt of the cash, Sh20 million was wired to Misoft Company Ltd co-owned by Kwaga and his wife Akinyi.
From the accounts of this firm, Sh9.9 was transferred directly to Obado’s children, the EACC dossier indicates.
Susan was paid Sh5.9, Achola, Sh1.8 million and Jerry Sh2.2 million.
Tarchdog Printers Ltd owned by Kwaga’s brother Joram Opala Otieno was also separately paid Sh37.4 million by the county.
About Sh2.5 million was wired to Achola and Jerry.
The money trail also shows the firms associated with the Kwaga family pooled resources after being paid by the Migori government to buy a house in Loresho Estate.
The house was registered in Kwaga’s name.
But the rental income from the property is wired into the bank accounts of Obado’s daughter, indicating he is simply holding the property in trust.
“Investigations have also established the recipient of rent accruing from the property Loresho Ridge House No. C1 on LR No. 21080/38 is one Evelyne Zacharia Okoth who is a daughter to Zacharia Okoth Obado, Governor Migori county,” the EACC said.
The documents show that Dankeys Press owned by Kwaga’s wife contributed Sh9 million and Swyfcom Engineering owned by Kwaga’s brother Patroba Ochanda Otieno contributed Sh8.5 million.
Mactabac contractors owned by Joram Opala Otieno, also Kwaga’s brother, paid Sh4 million, while Misoft paid Sh6.9 million.
Kwaga separately paid Sh8.9 million from his Cooperative Bank account for the house after receiving payments from several other firms associated with him.
Kwaga has remained a mysterious character unknown to many with no mainstream or social media footprint.
At one point, he was appointed to the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) board by ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru. The appointment was promptly revoked after a media outcry.
The EACC said in court documents that firms owned by Kwaga’s mother — Kajulu Business and Pesulas Supplies — purportedly rendered high-value specialised services, which the commission established she has no knowledge of or expertise in.
Detectives also established that Ochanda, who is a director of Swyfcon Engineering Ltd and Dolphus Software Ltd, was an employee of the Migori county government, working as a pharmacist at Uriri subcounty hospital.
The seven family members registered many firms which were special purpose vehicles for fraudulently securing tenders from the county government of Migori.
In November 2018, the High Court issued orders barring the suspects from selling or transferring 65 properties — including maisonettes, apartments and land — all valued at more than Sh382 million.
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.
