Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado has broken his silence over a controversy in which his family is accused of allegedly trying to engage in the unlawful acquisition of 900 acres of land in Nyatike to undertake mining and cotton production.
Mr Obado accused his critics of creating unnecessary tension, spreading false information about the process and misleading the public into thinking that he wants to grab the land.
“If I had bad intentions, I could have possessed the land when I was working as the governor. I am trying to get it now because I have seen the value it has, yet it has always been left idle for years,” Obado said.
The Migori County government intends to lease it for 30 years to Global Search Solutions Limited, a company owned by Hellen Odhiambo, the former governor's wife.
But some leaders from Migori, led by Nyatike MP Tom Odege, are not happy with the plans.
He told the National Assembly Lands Committee to launch an inquiry into how the devolved government intends to let the said company use the land.
Mr Odege presented a statement in the House seeking a detailed explanation from both the county government and the National Lands Commission (NLC) regarding the deal.
Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado speaks to journalists at his home in Rapogi in Uriri Sub-county on March 12, 2026.
Photo credit: George Odiwour | Nation Media Group
The legislator highlighted that the Macalder gold belt is rich in minerals, particularly gold, making it a strategic national resource.
He said such resources should be exploited for the benefit of the nation, the local community and future generations in line with Article 69 of the Constitution.
Mr Obado said he has no intentions of using the land to enrich himself; rather, he wants to use it to create employment, particularly for the youth of Migori.
“I do not see the reason why leasing the land should bring any problem to a leader. The problem we have is that some people are clueless and do not understand issues. Just because they can speak in forums, they take it as an opportunity to mislead the public. It is very unfortunate for leaders to spread false information,” he said.
He said leasing public land is not an illegal activity, equating it to when the government decided to lease sugar companies to make them perform better.
Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi on May 8, 2024.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
He added that his government had at one time leased part of the land to an individual who used it to grow sisal.
According to the former governor, members of the public have already been engaged about his plans to use the land.
He said their voice will carry the day—whether they give him a thumbs up to occupy and use the land or let it stay the way it is at the moment.
“We are not grabbing anybody’s land. We have simply expressed an interest and, when given the chance, I can do a lot of economic transformation on the land. I expected our leaders to look deeper,” Mr Obado said.
Artisanal gold mining in the region is a major, yet largely unregulated, informal industry driving the local economy but causing severe environmental and health hazards.
Miners use rudimentary tools to extract gold, often relying on mercury for processing, which leads to health complications.
The sector has the potential to generate millions annually, but most people who undertake the risky jobs of digging shafts often die poor.
Mr Obado claimed the land in question has been idle, with no meaningful economic activity done on it.
He said he has intentions of making it economically viable but accused his critics of suppressing him.
“It has been lying there for years and does not help anyone now. Nobody lives there. It would have been different if we applied to evict people from their homes,” the former county boss said.
He argued that whoever is opposing his plans may want to use the issue as a political tool to gain popularity.
According to Mr Obado, he is already engaged in different economic activities at a small scale and has used them to empower communities but wants to expand when given the freedom to use the land in Macalder and help more people.
“I will enhance my capacity if I get a large piece of land. I am sure that I will employ a lot of youths there. The government will also benefit. We can do a lot of corporate social responsibility,” the former county boss said.
Mining, especially for gold, in the country is generally done on a small scale.
Mr Obado, who has actively ventured into mining, said there are a lot of opportunities in gold extraction, yet Kenyans do not want to take up the challenge of digging up the mineral and selling it.
He said there is a notion that foreigners can do the work better, leaving a lot of people at the mercy of people from other countries.
“We have a perception that an investor of a different colour from us should be given cooperation and respect. We are mature enough and we should believe in ourselves. A notion that mining can only be undertaken by foreigners will not make us grow,” he said.
The former governor told MPs who will be looking into the matter to consider the empowerment and economic activities that his idea will have on the people when determining it.
“Matters that should be discussed in Parliament include how artisanal miners can be empowered. Most of them use simple tools or explosives, which is not recommended,” Mr Obado said.
Previously, he said, it was in consultancy and engaged other companies to undertake different projects.
“This is the right time for Kenya to exploit its natural resources. Our political leaders should support such efforts so that our people can benefit economically,” the former governor said.
