Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado, alongside his co-accused, has maintained his innocence regarding the brutal 2018 murder of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno and her unborn child. Obado, his personal assistant Michael Oyamo, and Caspal Obiero are facing charges related to the death of Sharon, who was abducted, raped, and murdered in Homa Bay County on September 3, 2018.
As the trial progresses, Obado insists that the actual killers behind the gruesome murder remain at large, despite the substantial circumstantial evidence linking the accused to the crime. During his defense, Obado’s lawyer, Senior Counsel Kiko Kilukumi, argued that there is no direct evidence connecting the former governor to the death of Sharon. The focus of the prosecution, according to Kilukumi, revolves around Obado’s relationship with Sharon, which involved financial support, including monthly upkeep payments and plans to buy her a home.
The prosecution, led by Nicholas Ole Sena, had earlier closed its case, presenting forensic and medical evidence to suggest a clear connection between the accused individuals and the crime. However, Kilukumi and his colleague Rogers Sagana maintain that the evidence against Obado is purely circumstantial. The legal team argues that while it is true Obado was financially supportive of Sharon, including providing her with at least Sh200,000 and promising her a home in Homa Bay, these actions do not prove his involvement in the murder.
The case has been marked by high drama, with crucial witness testimonies and revelations surrounding Sharon’s pregnancy. The prosecution presented DNA evidence confirming that Obado was the father of the unborn child Sharon was carrying at the time of her death. However, Kilukumi contends that Obado did not deny his paternity and was actively making plans for Sharon and the child’s future, thus demonstrating his willingness to support her.
One of the most significant aspects of the defense is the claim that the real perpetrators of the crime allegedly four men are still unidentified. Kilukumi pointed to a critical moment in the investigation: Sharon and a key witness, identified as “witness XYZ,” were reportedly lured into a vehicle by these four men. According to the defense, it was these men, not Obado or his co-accused, who carried out the murder. The vehicle involved in the abduction was allegedly a taxi driven by Jackson Gombe, who is said to have ferried Sharon to the murder scene. However, Kilukumi has questioned why Gombe has not been charged despite his alleged role in the abduction.
The defense also pointed to inconsistencies in the investigation, notably the failure to charge the taxi driver or identify the actual killers. Kilukumi emphasized that without bringing these individuals to justice, the true motive behind Sharon’s murder will remain unclear.
On the other hand, the prosecution has painted a compelling narrative of coordinated criminal activity. They have presented evidence showing that Obado, Oyamo, and Obiero played a significant role in Sharon’s abduction and eventual death. The prosecution also highlighted Oyamo’s alleged fabrication of a kidnapping story on the same night Sharon was murdered, which they argue was an attempt to conceal his involvement in the crime.
Forensic and medical experts have testified about the evidence linking the accused to the crime, including details about the abduction and the subsequent murder. The prosecution maintains that there is a “network of collaborated evidence” revealing how the accused worked together to orchestrate the crime.
As the trial continues, it remains to be seen whether the court will accept the defense’s argument that the true killers have evaded justice or whether the prosecution’s case, bolstered by forensic evidence, will lead to convictions. With both sides presenting their final submissions, the fate of Obado, Oyamo, and Obiero now rests in the hands of the court.
