Final opportunity for Obado to settle Sh505 million corruption case outside of judicial proceedings
The ongoing graft case against former Migori Governor Okoth Obado and his four children is currently in a state of negotiation, as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has been granted a final month by the Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi to conclude plea bargain negotiations.
This adjournment, granted on July 1, 2025, is to allow the parties involved, who are reportedly in advanced talks, to finalize an agreement. The court noted the adjournment was based on exceptional grounds, and if the negotiations fail, the case will proceed to a full trial. The matter will be revisited on July 21, 2025, when the parties will report on the progress or readiness to trial.
In a significant development, the EACC has already accepted Sh253 million as a fair settlement for two other asset recovery lawsuits involving Obado. This is not the first time that Obado and his co-accused have opted for out-of-court settlements, as they have settled two other graft cases worth Sh1.9 billion and Sh73 million out of court.
The defense team, led by Obado's lawyers, has formally requested an out-of-court settlement for the graft case, dated April 25, 2025. Since then, the defense team has held several meetings and deliberations with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the EACC following the letter. The DPP has requested one month to conclude the plea bargain process.
The State Prosecutor has confirmed receipt of the April 25, 2025 letter and acknowledged that a meeting had been held between the Office of the DPP, the EACC, and the defense counsel with a view to terminating the case through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). The defense team has proposed that the case be mentioned again on July 1, 2025, to provide an update on the negotiations.
This current status of the Sh505 million graft case against former Migori Governor Okoth Obado and his four children reflects the judiciary's current approach to encourage resolution through negotiation while keeping the possibility of a trial as a fallback. If the negotiations are successful, it would mark another instance of Obado and his co-accused settling graft cases out of court, avoiding a lengthy trial process. The public eagerly awaits the outcome of these negotiations, with the next court update scheduled for July 21, 2025.
[1] Kenya News Agency. (2025, July 1). Migori graft case: Obado, children given one month to settle Sh505m case. Retrieved from https://www.kna.co.ke/news/index.php?id=69688 [2] Standard Digital. (2025, July 1). Migori graft case: Obado, children given one month to settle Sh505m case. Retrieved from https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001398433/migori-graft-case-obado-children-given-one-month-to-settle-sh505m-case [4] Nation Media Group. (2025, July 1). Migori graft case: Obado, children given one month to settle Sh505m case. Retrieved from https://www.nation.co.ke/news/migori-graft-case-obado-children-given-one-month-to-settle-sh505m-case/
- The ongoing graft case against former Migori Governor Okoth Obado and his children is being negotiated as part of an attempt to resolve the case through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), reflecting the judiciary's approach to encourage resolution while keeping the possibility of a trial as a fallback.
- The public's interest in the outcome of these negotiations is high, as they would mark another instance of Obado and his co-accused settling graft cases out of court, potentially avoiding a lengthy trial process.
- Meanwhile, in the world of general news, it was reported that the EACC has already accepted Sh253 million as a fair settlement for two other asset recovery lawsuits involving Obado, indicating a trend of out-of-court settlements in Obado's business and crime-and-justice dealings.
