The Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) are set to auction properties worth over Ksh.428 million linked to former Migori Governor Okoth Obado and his close associates. The assets, believed to have been acquired through misappropriated public funds, will go under the hammer on July 23, 2025, beginning with prime Nairobi properties and extending to Kisumu and Migori.
This auction follows a major corruption probe dating back to 2020, which revealed a Ksh.1.9 billion graft scandal involving fraudulent procurement deals during Obado’s tenure. In a strategic move to avoid protracted court battles, Obado surrendered assets to the EACC in 2024 after reaching a settlement.
Among the Nairobi properties slated for auction are a high-end Ksh.40 million Loresho Ridge home, a Ksh.22 million Riara three-bedroom apartment, two Greenspan Estate apartments worth Ksh.18 million, a Ksh.14.5 million maisonette with a servant’s quarter, and a Ksh.50 million unfinished plot in Runda. These represent just a portion of the former governor’s wealth now being reclaimed by the state.
Also listed for auction are two Toyota Land Cruisers, once part of Obado’s vehicle fleet. Additional assets in Kisumu and Migori will be targeted in subsequent auctions.
EACC CEO Abdi Ahmed emphasized the broader purpose behind asset recovery. “The reason why we recover assets, other than returning them to the rightful owners, is to deter others from engaging in corruption. They must not enjoy proceeds of corruption,” he said.
The proceeds from the auction will be deposited into the Consolidated Fund to support essential public services. Ahmed noted that while many demand accountability from politicians, the greatest obstacle often comes from their own supporters who defend them.
In the last five years, the EACC reports recovering over Ksh.28 billion worth of assets and is actively investigating over 400 corruption cases valued at more than Ksh.50 billion.
This auction signals a renewed resolve by anti-graft bodies to curb corruption and reclaim stolen public resources for the benefit of Kenyan citizens.
