- They were charged with several counts of fraud and loss of Sh73.4 million in Migori county.
- Obado was arrested alongside four of his children and seven other persons who allegedly benefited from the looting.
Image: FILE
Migori Governor Okoth Obado and his four children will spend the weekend in police custody as they await their bail ruling on Monday.
Obado was arraigned alongside his children and seven others to answer charges of graft over loss of Sh73.4 million.
Chief magistrate Lawrence Mugambi ordered them to be detained until Monday when he will rule on their bail application.
The accused persons denied all the counts of graft at the Migori county government.
Obado was brought to court as early as 8.30am and he sat pensively with this son Dan Okoth as they awaited the magistrate to take their plea.
They all denied that between October 29, 2014 and October 18, 2016 within Migori county they jointly conspired to commit an economic crime which was the unlawful acquisition of public funds totaling Sh73.4 million.
The accused included Obado's children Dan Okoth, Scarlet Okoth, Jerry Okoth, Evelyn Okoth and his alleged family friend Jared Kwaga Odoyo and Kwaga’s mother Peninah Auma.
Obado was separately charged with eight counts of conflict of interest. It is alleged that being the governor he held an indirect private interest in several contracts that paid money into his children's accounts.
He and his son Dan were jointly charged with money laundering. They allegedly entered into an arrangement to transfer of Sh10 million for the purchase of a Land Cruiser vehicle knowing that the money was proceeds of crime.
The prosecution opposed their release on bail, telling court that Obado was a flight risk and if released he may interfere with witnesses.
The prosecution also argued that the governor has a pending murder case and should not be granted bail.
The prosecution said they intended to charge Obado with another case and he should be denied bail until the case is heard and determined.
However, defense lawyer Kioko Kilukumi said Obado cannot run away from jurisdiction claiming that the governor drove himself to the Kisii EACC offices to surrender himself when he had the opportunity to escape to Tanzania, which is near Migori.
Edited by Henry Makori