Embattled Migori governor Okoth Obado has termed as total madness, the allegations that up to sh 2.5 billion was stolen from the County coffers.
“It is total madness for someone to imagine and even accept that such money can be taken from a county and it still remains running,” said Obado as quoted by The Standard
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating some 23 companies alleged to have been used to win several tenders between 2013 and 2017.
Reports indicate that so far, some assets among them 77 pieces of land and 32 companies have been exposed and several accounts frozen.
“I blame this on cheap thinking. It is irresponsible for anyone who understands county operations to even accept that such money can be stolen. These are efforts of my opponents to distract me and tarnish my name,” said Obado. With firm eyes and a coiled face, he says: “I am not a member of procurement committee. That committee is independent and only sends recommendations acted upon by the executive.
Obado said money has been trickling into the counties and explained that this financial year Migori was allocated Sh8 billion, of which Sh320 million was received in August and another Sh400 in September. “These monies have hardly been used and if they have probably in paying salaries.
The monies being bandied around are cumulative debts owed to contractors for works already done,” he said.
The Migori County boss is currently in custody after being accused as the prime suspect in the murder of his seven month pregnant girlfriend Sharon Otieno.
He said that he will still go back to serving the people of Migori. “The people of Migori have stood with me and I will continue to serve them,”
Obado still maintains that he had nothing and absolutely nothing to do with Sharon’s murder.
“It has been blown beyond what it should have been. As a normal human being I am hurt and it is a painful experience that you cannot wish on anyone,” said Obado.
He however said that he has accepted his fate and will deal with.
“I have accepted the circumstances I am in and I am willing to deal with them. My spirit is still strong. I will continue to serve my people (of Migori) and I hope this will end soon,” Obado said.
He will be arraigned in court on Monday, where a decision on his bail application will be made.