Embattled Migori governor Okoth Obado is still hopeful that he will overcome the grave murder charges he is currently facing and continue discharging his duties as His Excellency the Governor of Migori.
“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 as quoted by the Standard.
He also thanked the people of Migori for standing with him through out his tribulations, that have seen him spend close to two weeks in prison.
“The people of Migori have stood with me and I will continue to serve them,” he said.
The governor still mantains that he had nothing to do with the heinous murder of his pregnant girlfriend Sharon Otieno. Sharon’s mutilated body was found in a thicket in Kodera forest on 4th August, two days after she had been lured to abduction by Michael Oyamo, Obado’s aide.
Investigations have since revealed that the governor was the father of Sharon’s unborn baby.
“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 termed the allegations that up to Sh2.5 billion may have been stolen from the county coffers, some of it paid to companies associated with his family, as total madness.
“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.
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.