The Anti-Corruption Court directed the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga to consult the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) within two weeks on the intention to withdraw a KSh505 million corruption case against former Migori Governor Okoth Obado.
In its judgment, the court asked both offices to come back with the outcome of their consultations on November 7, 2025, when the case will be mentioned once again.
The judgment comes a month after the DPP, on September 1, informed the court that his office had a plea agreement with the ex-governor and wanted to formally withdraw charges.
But the EACC subsequently dissociated itself from the agreement, claiming it had not signed or endorsed the deal a move which has raised questions about whether the case withdrawal had the full endorsement of all the investigating agencies concerned.
Previously, the EACC and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution had sought the court, through a joint application, for adjournment by a month to allow them to finalize their talks for a possible out-of-court settlement.
The former Migori County boss has battled graft charges for more than four years, charged with abuse of office, conspiracy to commit economic crimes, money laundering, and illegal acquisition of public property.
The EACC had initially sought to recover more than KSh1.9 billion that was reportedly lost through fake procurement transactions during Obado’s tenure.
The investigators accused the cash of being funneled towards 13 companies linked to the governor and his key confidants.
Obado, accompanied by 10 others, four of whom were his children, was arrested in August 2020 following accusations by the DPP of embezzling millions of shillings from the Migori County government between 2013 and 2017.
He was also accused of benefitting directly from around KSh73 million from suspicious transactions during his time in office.
While the case continues to linger, all are waiting for the DPP and EACC to determine whether they will synchronize the fate of one of the most trailed corruption cases of a former county boss.
