An EACC investigator narrated to the court how they raided, and recovered evidence to charge former Migori Governor Okoth Obado with graft.
Robert Rono told Chief Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi that the raid at Jared Peter Odongo’s residential home on 15 March 2018 lead to the discovery of tender documents in the Sh.136Million case.
The investigator said his team searched and recovered assorted Local Purchase Orders(LPOs) for tender contracts issued to companies associated with Obado and his co-accused.
The witness took the court through some of LPOs worth millions of shillings in favor of some suspects’ business entities for various services and goods to the Migori County government and the Governor’s offices.
Rono testified that two separate LPOs of Ksh15.4million for consultancy sanitation services facilities in his homestead and public places and delivery of pens, crystals, staples, and printing papers in favor of Dankey Press company.
Rono further stated that another LPO of KSh 9.3 million was in favor of Mactebac Contractors for the provision of consultancy services for environment work at the Governor’s office.
The court heard that the LPOs dated on diverse days and months between 2014-2015 had Migori county government impression stamps and signatures of the Migori County Head of Supply Chain Services.
The witness was testifying against Obado, his four children, Dan Achola, Scarlet Susan, Jerry Zachary and Evelyne, businessman Jared Oluoch Kwaga, his wife Christine Akinyi Ochola, mother Penina Auma, brothers Joram Opala Otieno and Patroba Ochanda Otieno, and sister-in-law Carolyne Anyango Ochola.
Also charged are seven entities including Misoft Ltd, Tarchdog Printers Ltd, Kajulu Business Ltd, Victorious Investments Ltd, Deltrack ICT Services Ltd Swyfcon Engineering Ltd and Dolphus Softwares Ltdas for allegedly used to siphon public funds from the county government.
They are facing 25 counts including conspiracy to commit an economic crime, conflict of interest, money laundering and unlawful acquisition of public property.
The prosecution intends to call 40 witnesses.
The hearing will proceed on Wednesday, 26, October 2022.
