Wamuzi News Ke
In a sweeping move, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has seized and is preparing to auction assets valued at Sh505 million from close associates of former Migori Governor Zachary Okoth Obado. The properties, surrendered under a plea-bargain deal, mark one of Kenya’s most significant anti-corruption recoveries in recent years and signal a sharper turn toward restitution over protracted court battles.
What’s Happening
- Ten high-value properties across Nairobi, Kisumu, and Migori are set to hit the auction block. These include residential estates, commercial buildings, plots, and mixed-use structures.
- Owners who surrendered the assets include Jared Kwaga, Joram Otieno, Caroline Obwa, and Yuda Otago Ojuki — all implicated alongside Obado in alleged economic crimes, public property theft, and money-laundering through fictitious procurement contracts during his tenure between 2013 and 2017.
Key Assets to Be Auctioned
- Six properties linked to one individual (Kwaga) will be auctioned, including luxury apartments in Nairobi’s Greenspan Estate, two blocks of ten-apartment residential units in Migori, a commercial office complex known as Sunrise Centre, and a townhouse in Loresho Ridge.
- Another accused, Otieno, is surrendering small rental blocks on a plot in Suna East/Wasweta, Migori.
- Obwa is losing a three-bedroom apartment in Riara, Nairobi, and a four-storey block of flats in Kisumu’s Lolwe Estate.
- Ojuki forfeits a mixed use property in Rongo, Kamagambo, with both commercial and residential components.
Auction Process & Public Impact
- The EACC has scheduled auctions for October 2025 in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Migori. Bidders must pay a refundable Sh500,000 deposit to participate, and successful bidders must pay 10% of the purchase price on the auction day, with the rest due within 60 days. Reserve pricing and proper title consents will apply.
- Funds recovered will be redirected into Kenya’s development budget, specifically for healthcare and education services.
Why It Matters
This recovery signals a shift in how Kenya deals with corrupt proceeds: rather than letting court cases drag on for years, the government is turning to plea bargains and asset forfeiture to recoup public money more swiftly and visibly.
It also sends a stark message to public officials and private actors alike that ill-gotten wealth—even if acquired through proxy or contracted firms—can be seized without lengthy legal wrangling, so long as cooperation is secured.
For the citizens of Migori, Nairobi, Kisumu — areas that may have suffered from lost resources — this represents partial restitution. It may also test public confidence: whether recovered assets truly translate into improved services or simply fill audit reports.
