The Ksh505 million corruption case against former Migori Governor Okoth Obado could be settled out of court following a plea bargain deal between the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
The case was expected to be withdrawn, but it stalled on Tuesday after the court was informed that not all parties had signed the agreement.
Trial magistrate Charles Ondieki directed that the matter be mentioned on September 5 for further directions.
“Some parties who were not signatories to the said agreement need time to do so, so that the matter can be marked as settled,” the court was told.
Obado is charged alongside his four children and 11 others in connection with the alleged embezzlement of county funds while he served as governor.
In July, EACC and the ODPP sought a one-month adjournment to allow for the conclusion of negotiations on the plea bargain. The court was informed that talks had reached an advanced stage but more time was required to finalise.
The case is anchored on allegations that Obado and his co-accused siphoned approximately Ksh505 million in public funds through irregular procurement deals and fraudulent transactions. Charges include abuse of office, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit economic crimes.
According to the prosecution, payments were made to companies linked to Obado’s associates for fictitious goods and services. Investigations by EACC, launched in 2018, flagged multiple irregularities in Migori County’s financial records during his tenure.
Obado, who governed Migori County between 2013 and 2022, has consistently denied the charges, dismissing them as politically driven.
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