Why EACC auctioned Obado's Sh69.7 million family assets

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has officially sold five prime properties worth Sh69,705,000 recovered from former Migori Governor Okoth Obado, his four children, and associates in a bid to recover millions of shillings looted from public coffers.

The auction, held on Thursday, October 9, 2025, in Nairobi, saw all five properties sold above their reserve prices, according to EACC’s Head of Corporate Affairs and Communication, Stephen Karuga, HSC.

“The Commission is pleased to announce that all five properties were sold at values exceeding their reserve prices, realising a total of Sh 69.7 million,” said Mr. Karuga.

Obado's assets, located in various parts of Nairobi, were part of ten properties earmarked for disposal following court orders issued in two forfeiture suits.

Among the properties sold were Riara Apartment No. FF3, a three-bedroom unit on LR 330/140 (Nairobi/Block 14/247), which has been sold for Sh 14 million, a three-bedroom Greenspan Estate Apartment on LR Nairobi/Block 82/8759, sold for Sh 6,950,000; and a two-bedroom Greenspan Estate Apartment on the same parcel, sold for Sh 6,755,000.

Additionally, the anti-graft agency confirms that Greenspan Estate Maisonette No. 279, also on LR Nairobi/Block 82/8759, was sold for Sh 11,000,000, while a Loresho Ridge Estate Townhouse on LR 21080/63 was sold for Sh 31,000,000.

The commission said the remaining five properties, located in Kisumu and Migori Counties, will be auctioned on Thursday, October 16, 2025, and invited members of the public to participate.

The agency says it has invited members of the public to participate in the upcoming auction.

“In line with Section 56C of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, all proceeds from these auctions will be deposited into the Consolidated Fund,” Karuga added.

“The Commission reiterates its commitment to tracing and recovering proceeds of corruption and unexplained wealth to ensure that perpetrators do not benefit from their ill-gotten gains.”

In September 2025, the EACC had engaged Galaxy Auctioneers, Keysian Auctioneers, and Astorion Auctioneers to conduct a series of public sales targeting ten high-value properties linked to Obado’s associates, Jared Kwaga, Joram Otieno, Caroline Obwa, and Otago Ojuki, all under investigation for money laundering and economic crimes.

The sale comes exactly one year after the High Court in Nairobi allowed the EACC to drop a Sh 1.9 billion asset forfeiture case against Obado, his four children, and businessman Jared Peter Oluoch Kwaga, following an out-of-court settlement.

In July 2024, Justice Esther Maina approved the EACC’s application to terminate two asset recovery suits, one for Sh 1.9 billion and another for Sh 73 million, after Obado, his children, and his associates agreed to surrender properties and vehicles valued at Sh 235.6 million to the State.

“The defendants have offered to surrender, and the Commission has accepted to receive, eight properties and two motor vehicles, all worth Sh 235,600,000 to be disposed of by way of public auction in full and final settlement of the two claims,” EACC’s lawyer told the court at the time.

The consent filed in court okayed the surrender of assets, including the Loresho Ridge townhouse, commercial buildings in Suna East, and several Greenspan Estate apartments, all of which are now under auction.

Obado is also said to have two five-storey residential blocks in Suna East, Migori County, valued at Sh 80 million and Sh 57.6 million respectively.

Additionally, two Toyota Land Cruiser V8 vehicles were surrendered as part of the agreement.

EACC had filed the two assets cases claiming that their investigations revealed that Obado, during his tenure, awarded tenders to several companies linked to his proxies, led by businessman Jared Peter Oluoch Kwaga, between 2013 and 2017.

Investigations revealed that the network laundered proceeds of corruption through property purchases in Nairobi, Migori, and Kisumu, using family members and associates as proxies.

Despite the settlement, a Sh 505 million criminal case against Obado, his children, and co-accused remains pending before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court.

The matter has, however, stalled as the accused have also written to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) seeking an out-of-court resolution.

At the same time, EACC also announced that it has sold Stephen Ogaga Osiro, through a public auction, too. 

According to the commission, the recovered assets are part of the Commission’s wider “Tuangamize Ufisadi, Tuijenge Kenya” campaign, a national anti-corruption initiative aimed at restoring integrity in public service through asset recovery, prosecution, and preventive action.

The EACC emphasised that it will continue pursuing asset recovery, prosecution, and preventive strategies to ensure no public official benefits from ill-got wealth.