Okoth Obado: Corrupt former Migori governor to lose Sh248 million properties

Once hailed as a political colossus in South Nyanza, Okoth Obado now cuts the figure of a man adrift, his power waning, his loyalists vanishing, and his legacy on the line.

Once revered as Obado Sirkal, a grassroots giant who dared defy even ODM leader Raila Odinga, the former Migori governor now faces a reckoning marked by court battles, asset seizures, and social exile.

Backed by near-fanatical support in his heyday, Obado rose from humble beginnings in sugar politics to become a two-term governor with a flair for the flamboyant. In Migori, his supporters referred to him as Obado Sirkal, equating him to the power of the national government, and were eager to defend him at all costs.

So dominant was his influence that he openly challenged Odinga’s supremacy without attracting the wrath of Raila’s supporters, a rare act of defiance in Nyanza politics. But even that aura couldn’t shield him when, in 2020, footage emerged of his daughter flashing a middle finger at journalists amid a corruption probe.

Few in Migori were surprised; the family had long exuded an aura of invincibility.

But times have changed. Obado now faces a sharp descent from grace as he struggles to save his empire from crumbling to extinction amid court cases that have shaken his family to the core.

He is increasingly cutting a lone figure as fanatics and former allies slip away amid his legal storms. His appearances in public forums, including in his county, have become scarce.

Recently, the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) identified multi-million properties belonging to the embattled former governor and his associates for auction. The properties valued at Sh428 million are spread in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Migori.

They, include a posh Loresho Ridge House valued at Sh40 million, a three-bedroom Riara apartment worth Sh22 million, two Greenspan Estate apartments valued at Sh18 million, a Greenspan maisonette with a servant’s quarter valued at Sh14.5 million, and an unfinished Runda plot valued at Sh50 million, his assets in Nairobi.

This is after the government dropped a Sh1.9 billion asset forfeiture case against Obado, his companies, four children, and a businessman in June last year, to settle the matter out of court.

At the time, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) said that the suspects had surrendered three other apartments in Greenspan each valued at Sh18 million and Sh14.5 million. Other properties seized, include residential property at Kamagambo worth Sh10 million and another two single-resident prime properties in Suna East with eight one-bedroom units valued at Sh7.5 million.

In politics, he cuts a lone figure and has been struggling to rejuvenate his profile through President Ruto’s United Democracy Alliance (UDA) party. In the build-up to the 2022 General Elections, he led mobilisations for the party in Nyanza, but is one of the prominent figures who missed out on Ruto’s appointments.

A neighbour told The Nairobian in confidence that his home in Uriri, which used to be a meeting point with supporters, is now deserted as he remains deserted. “He no longer holds power, and many have abandoned him. These days, when he leaves public events, nobody bothers to accompany or follow him,” said the neighbour.

Within ODM circles, he is an unwanted figure. During the days he was in power, he had several frictions with ODM stalwarts and openly criticised them.

A senior ODM official told this writer they do not recognise him, adding that Obado was the architect of his downfall.

But not everyone had turned their backs against him. Some of his loyal supporters believe he is still a force to be reckoned with.

One of his aides, Elvis Omondi, who spoke with The Nairobian on phone, described Obado as a man of the people.

“He knew what people wanted and knew what to do. He was available for his people. He was generous,” Omondi remarked.

According to Omondi, Obado was not a sycophant and did not dance to the tune of other people, but a development-conscious leader who still commands huge support despite being in the cold.

Obado is also struggling to shake off his implication in the brutal murder of his former girlfriend, Sharon Otieno.

Although he has maintained his innocence, some of his supporters believe the implications have tarnished his image, but are optimistic that he will clear his name in court.

In March, the former governor admitted to having had an affair with the deceased and acknowledged that he had impregnated her, though he was not willing to marry her.

“The relationship between Sharon and I was an open secret. Staff within the Migori County government were aware of the affair,” he said. 

He testified that his wife, Hellen Adhiambo, discovered the affair in May 2018 during a Devolution conference attended by all governors at the Acacia Hotel in Kisumu.

“On the night of May 12, 2018, around 11 pm, my wife called and asked whether I was at the Acacia Hotel or another hotel where Sharon had allegedly been booked,” Obado said.

Although he denied staying at the same hotel as Sharon, he admitted to paying for her accommodation elsewhere in Kisumu. “At first, I denied knowing Sharon, but my wife told me she had planned to catch me with her at the hotel,” he testified.

Eventually, he came clean.

“I decided to open up that I truly had an affair with Sharon, and I offered my apology. I will not state the exact words I used,” he said, adding that his wife responded mockingly, telling him to bring Sharon home to live with them.

He assured her that the relationship had ended but acknowledged responsibility for Sharon’s pregnancy.

He is still battling the accusations of murdering the deceased and is among the storms he is hoping to overcome.

Obado started his career as a teacher, where he taught at Rapogi High School. He was little known until he contested and was elected as the director of the Kenya Sugar Board, representing farmers in the Sony Sugar zone.

He served as a director for three terms, during which he worked closely with the late Ndhiwa MP, Orwa Ojode, in pushing for the establishment of the sugar factories in Ndhiwa (Sukari Industries) and Trans Mara.

In 2010, he was elected as the board’s chairman, where he established powerful political connections.

In 2013, the former governor, after a fallout with ODM bigwigs, vied for the Migori gubernatorial seat with the little-known People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He surprised many when he chose to run on the little-known party and trounced the ODM candidate.

Obado defied all odds to win a seat in an ODM stronghold, defeating Oyugi Akong’o, a former ally and Raila advisor. Despite multiple impeachment attempts by ODM members, he persisted.

Before the 2017 elections, he rejoined ODM and was welcomed by Raila Odinga at a public rally.

However, his 2017 campaign was marred by violence at Migori’s Posta Grounds during an ODM event. Consequently, Obado and his strong opponent, Governor Ochilo Ayacko, were summoned to Nairobi.