Former head Nairobi County Treasury Stephen Osiro's apartments in Kisumu.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
The auction, already approved by the courts, is part of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission’s (EACC) strategy to recover stolen public assets and punish corrupt officials. The properties in Nairobi, Kisumu and Migori counties were seized following successful forfeiture proceedings.
A residential home valued at Sh40 million at Loresho, Nairobi that was recovered by EACC from former Migori governor Okoth Obado's proxy Jared Kwaga.
Photo credit: Steve Otieno | Nation Media Group
Mr Obado was found to have irregularly acquired properties worth hundreds of millions through his close associate Jared Peter Odoyo Oluoch Kwaga. The commission found that many of the properties were registered under Mr Kwaga and other associates who served as conduits for embezzled county funds.
In Nairobi’s Greenspan Estate in Donholm, Mr Kwaga bought two three-bedroom apartments and a townhouse valued at Sh32.5 million. He also bought a Sh40 million maisonette in Loresho, currently generating Sh130,000 in monthly rent. These properties are among those slated for auction.
In Migori, Mr Kwaga’s seized assets include a Sh10 million residential development in Kamagambo and three properties in Suna East. These include a 20-unit apartment block of two-bedroom units valued at Sh57.6 million, Sunshine Centre—a commercial complex worth Sh88 million. There is also an eight-unit one-bedroom rental building valued at Sh7.5 million that Mr Obado acquired through Joram Opala Otieno.
Collectively, the assets are valued at Sh235.6 million.
Mr Osiro was found to have amassed Sh340 million in cash and property between January 2011 and April 2016—far beyond what his gross monthly salary of Sh90,000 could support. EACC’s lifestyle audits and investigations linked the wealth to corruption and unexplained sources, leading to court-ordered forfeiture of his assets.
Sunrise Centre in Migori town.
Photo credit: Steve Otieno | Nation Media Group
In Nairobi, Mr Osiro forfeited a Sh50 million maisonette under construction in Runda, a Sh22 million three-bedroom apartment in Riara and a Sh6 million two-bedroom apartment on Mbagathi Way near Nairobi West.
His wealth also stretched to Kisumu, where EACC recovered two apartment blocks in Lolwe Estate. One block, still under construction, was valued at Sh80 million, while the other—a complex of seven two-bedroom apartments—was worth Sh35 million. The total value of Mr Osiro’s recovered assets stands at Sh193 million.
EACC boss Abdi Mohamud said the auction proceeds will be remitted to the National Treasury and used to support public institutions or services impacted by corruption. In the meantime, rental income from the properties is being managed by the commission.
A house at Greenspan, Donholm in Nairobi valued at Sh14.5million that was recovered by EACC from former Migori Governor, Okoth Obado's proxy Jared Kwaga.
Photo credit: Steve Otieno | Nation Media Group
“The goal of asset recovery beyond returning wealth to the rightful owners—the public—is to act as a deterrent so others don’t enjoy the benefits of stolen assets. It’s about restoring trust in public institutions and showing that corruption does not pay,” Mr Mohamud said. He credited the accelerated asset recovery to alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
Two residential blocks of 20, two-bedroom units at Milimani, Migori County valued at Sh57.6 million. These properties were recovered by the EACC from former Migori governor Okoth Obado's proxy Jared Kwaga.
Photo credit: Steve Otieno | Nation Media Group
“Reporting enables us to initiate investigations. Corruption cases have no statute of limitations—we will pursue them to the end,” Mr Karuga said.
