Migori Governor Okoth Obado becomes the first Governor in the Kenyan history to be charged with a capital offence, courtesy of his current murder case where he is accused of participating in the murder of Rongo University Student Sharon Otieno.
But back at home, he is hailed as a darling of the people and a skilled crowd mobilizer who has his way with the masses, some of whom have since demonstrated against his continued detention.
He suddenly burst into the political scene in 2013 against the area dominant Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) while riding on the little known People Democratic Party (PDP) ticket.
In his first term alone, several graft allegations were raised against his administration, including claims of irregular procurement and embezzlement of public coffers.
His administration was accused of an irregular procurement of ambulances worth 230 million shillings, with some of his staff ending up in court for allegedly flouting procurement rules in the purchase of furniture for his official residence.
This was worth Ksh20 million, according to the Citizen Digital.
In April 2017, he was slapped with a 2 million fine by the Orange party whose membership he had acquired, after he was linked to the violence that rocked the opening of the party office in the county.
He is currently again at loggerheads with the party for his opposition of its attempts to defend the vacant Migori Senatorial seat, and is said to be financing another candidate to floor ODM’s Ochilo Ayacko.
Obado is said to have sponsored Eddy Oketch's campaign materials and given him the truck he used for his (Obado) gubernatorial re-election campaigns.
Regarding his ongoing murder case, his political career is on the balance, as a conviction could land him in jail, leading to his seat being taken over by his deputy for the remainder of the term.
Link: https://citizentv.co.ke/news/migori-governor-okoth-obado-a-profile-of-controversy-213026/