Government revokes appointment of key corruption suspect following public uproar

The government on Monday revoked the appointment of Jared Peter Odoyo Kwaga, a chief suspect in a Ksh2 billion corruption case that was also linked to Migori Governor Okoth Obado.

The revocation followed a public uproar questioning how ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru’s settled on having Kwaga join the board of the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC).

Speaking to a source, CS Mucheru’s PA confirmed that the revocation had been effected through a gazette notice although declined to comment further on the matter. The appointment by the ICT CS over the weekend had raised eyebrows with many Kenyans questioning the government’s commitment to fighting corruption.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission had previously sought to have Kwaga’s accounts frozen as it pursued a Ksh1.9 billion recovery suit against him and his relatives; wife Christine Akinyi Ochola, brothers Patroba Ochanda Otieno and Joram Opala Otieno and his mother Penina Auma.

The damning file went on to accuse Kwaga of transferring a loot amounting to Ksh 38,949,376 to Australian and Scotland bank accounts belonging to Obado’s children, identified as Dan Ochola Okoth, Jerry Zachary Okoth, and Susan Scarlet Okoth.

Kwaga and his family were also barred from selling or transferring 65 properties — including maisonettes, apartments, and land — together valued at more than Ksh382 million, by a High Court order in early January.

His appointment comes at a time when Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji and the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) office been calling on any individuals under graft-related investigations to be classified as ineligible for public office posts.

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