Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado and his two co-accused have been convicted of the 2018 murder of university student Sharon Otieno, bringing to a close one of Kenya’s most closely watched criminal trials.
In a packed courtroom at the Milimani Law Courts today Thursday, Justice Cecilia Githua ruled that prosecutors had proved their case beyond reasonable doubt against Obado, his former personal assistant Michael Oyamo and former county official Caspal Obiero.
“It is therefore my finding that the prosecution has proved its case against the first, second and third accused persons beyond reasonable doubt. I consequently find each accused guilty of the offence of murder. Each accused is accordingly convicted,” Justice Githua said.
The judgment marks the end of nearly eight years of investigations and court proceedings following the killing of Sharon, a 26-year-old Rongo University student who was about seven months pregnant when she was murdered in September 2018.
Her death shocked the country and drew intense public attention because of her reported relationship with Obado, who was then serving as Migori governor.
A Case Built on Circumstantial Evidence
Throughout the trial, prosecutors relied largely on circumstantial evidence, calling 42 witnesses to piece together the events leading to Sharon’s abduction and killing.
Justice Githua said that evidence formed an unbroken chain linking Obado, Oyamo and Obiero to the crime.
The court rejected Obado’s claim that he had accepted Sharon’s pregnancy. Instead, the judge found that evidence presented during the trial showed he had pressured her to terminate it.
“On the first accused’s own admission, he learned about Sharon’s pregnancy in March 2018, and this is the same time he claims to have terminated, or decided to terminate, his relationship with the late Sharon,” the judge observed.
According to the court, the pregnancy became the central issue that ultimately led to Sharon’s death.
Justice Githua also concluded that Obado had a strong motive to prevent details of his relationship with Sharon from becoming public, saying he faced potential political and reputational damage.
The court found that he relied on trusted aides, Oyamo and Obiero, to handle matters concerning Sharon.
The Roles of the Co-Accused
The judge found that Oyamo arranged a meeting at Graca Hotel in Rongo under the guise of delivering money on Obado’s behalf.
Instead, the court ruled, the meeting was used to hand Sharon over to the men who later abducted and killed her.
Justice Githua also found that Oyamo fraudulently obtained an Airtel SIM card using another person’s identification documents shortly before the murder. According to the court, the phone line was used solely to communicate with Sharon and was intended to conceal those behind the crime.
Obiero was also found to have played a key role in the events surrounding Sharon’s abduction and murder, based on the evidence presented during the trial.
The Killing That Shook Kenya
Sharon was abducted on September 3, 2018, shortly after leaving Graca Hotel in Rongo with Nation Media Group journalist Barrack Oduor.
Oduor escaped by jumping from the moving vehicle in which they were being held. Sharon did not.
Her body was later discovered near Kodera Forest in Homa Bay County with multiple stab wounds. She was seven months pregnant.
The murder sparked national outrage and became one of Kenya’s most prominent criminal cases, drawing years of public scrutiny and legal battles.
Defense Rejected
Obado, Oyamo and Obiero had all denied the murder charge throughout the trial. Their lawyers argued that the prosecution’s case relied entirely on circumstantial evidence and failed to meet the threshold for a conviction.
After reviewing testimony from both the prosecution and defence, however, Justice Githua ruled that the evidence was sufficient to establish the guilt of all three accused beyond reasonable doubt.
The convictions conclude the trial phase of a case that has remained in the national spotlight for almost eight years. Sentencing is expected to follow in accordance with the court’s directions.
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