Obado finds way around court order barring him from office

Embattled Migori Governor Okoth Obado has converted his official residence into a makeshift office after the court barred him from the county offices.

Mr Obado and his four children are accused of stealing Sh300 million from county coffers and are out on bail.

Chief Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi of the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court barred Mr Obado from entering his office pending conclusion of the trial, but he did not stop him from discharging his official duties.

Three months after he was released on Sh8.7 million cash bail, Mr Obado has changed tack and commutes daily from his rural home in Rapogi, some 30 kilometres away, to discharge his official duties.

Several rooms in the bungalow have been converted into offices, hosting aides and senior county officials, while his main office is in the living room.  The block is located some two kilometres from the county headquarters and its compound is dotted with tents, with a red carpet rolled out for dignitaries who call on the governor.

Mr Obado presides over key county functions at the new office. He has held several meetings with senior officials, among them East African Community Principal Secretary Kevit Desai.

Resting easy

Last week, he witnessed the swearing-in of county attorney Naomi Matiku at a ceremony presided over by Migori Chief Magistrate Dickson Onyango.  He later received Sh7 million worth of Personal Protective Equipment from the European Union through the Kenya Red Cross Society.

“We’re keen on fulfilling our mandate to the electorate, despite all that’s happening. We must ensure that the people get services,” Mr Obado told his executive committee last month.

The county chief is now resting easy after surviving an impeachment motion. Speaking to the Nation, his political adviser Dennis Orero said Mr Obado was only barred from working from the county headquarters.

“The directive... did not bar the governor from discharging his mandate as an elected leader, it only barred him from setting foot in the office and he has faithfully done so,” said Mr Orero. Communication Director Nicholas Anyuor said the governor’s meetings “are legal and do not in any way contravene the court directive.

“The governor is a law-abiding citizen, who has a mandate to fulfil and a legacy to leave behind. His functions are clearly spelt out in the constitution,” he said.

County Secretary Christopher Rusana and administration director Dominic Akugo are in charge of all staff  at the county headquarters in the interim.

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