Former Migori County Governor Okoth Obado, appearing before Milimani High Court under Justice Cecilia Githua on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, passionately denied any role in the death of his former lover, Sharon Otieno. He described her passing as a tragic event that neither she nor her family deserved. Expressing profound sorrow, Obado emphasized the personal and reputational toll her death had taken on him, conveying his empathy for Sharon’s parents, her children, and her wider circle of relatives.
In his defense, Obado painted a picture of a complicated personal relationship that had been no secret to those close to them. He revealed that Sharon’s mother had been aware of their affair, having even used her own phone to facilitate calls between her daughter and the governor. He, in turn, had occasionally spoken directly with Sharon’s mother, further underscoring the openness of the relationship.
However, Obado expressed surprise at learning that his own wife, Hellen Adhiambo, also knew about the affair before he had disclosed it to her. He recounted the moment during a devolution conference in Kisumu County in May 2018 when the issue first came up. Confronted by his wife, he admitted the relationship and apologized though he chose not to repeat his exact words in court. He reassured Hellen that he had ended the relationship, with one lingering responsibility: to care for the unborn child Sharon was carrying.
The governor’s communications team soon found itself embroiled in the fallout. Following a flurry of social media attention, Nicholas Anyur, Obado’s communications director at the time, approached him with strategies for managing the public relations crisis. Obado, however, dismissed Anyur’s concerns, insisting that his personal life was not a matter for county administration. His primary worry was the effect on his wife rather than his political career, particularly as he was in his final term.
Obado went on to describe how the matter came to light within his own family. On June 18, 2018, he and Hellen traveled overseas for their child’s graduation, agreeing that their son Dan would be the first to learn of the pregnancy. When Obado broached the subject, Dan revealed that he was already aware of Sharon and of her condition through social media. He recounted how Sharon had even sent baby bump photographs to Dan, and how she had suggested she might assume a maternal role in his life.
Throughout his testimony, Obado stressed that while the affair had clearly caused significant personal upheaval and public scrutiny, there was never any question of foul play on his part. He reiterated his sorrow at Sharon’s untimely death and maintained that he bore no responsibility for it. His appearance before Justice Githua marks yet another chapter in a long-running case that has gripped the nation, as the court continues to sift through competing narratives in search of the truth.
