The High Court decided that former Migori Governor Okoth Obado, along with his two co-accused, Michael Oyamo and Caspal Obiero, have a case to answer in the brutal 2018 murder of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno and her unborn child.
Lady Justice Cecilia Githua, delivering the ruling, stated that the prosecution had presented a prima facie case against the three accused. This decision came after the prosecution closed its case in 2024, presenting 42 witnesses, including a journalist who was abducted alongside Sharon Otieno before her death. The journalist, who survived the ordeal, managed to escape by jumping from the moving vehicle, providing a crucial piece of evidence in the case.
The prosecution’s case is largely based on the testimonies of witnesses and prosecution-guided investigations, which the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) used to collect evidence leading to the charges. The murder took place on the night of September 3, 2018, in a forest within Homa Bay County, where Otieno and her unborn child were brutally killed.
In his defense, Obado, through his lawyers Kioko Kilukumi and Rodger Saganba, argued that the prosecution failed to establish a strong case against him. He maintained that he had an open relationship with Sharon Otieno and was willing to support both her and their unborn child. Obado’s defense team contended that the prosecution’s evidence was weak and lacked the necessary corroborative details to prove the accusations.
Similarly, Oyamo and Obiero also sought acquittal, challenging the credibility of the prosecution’s witnesses. They claimed that some of the testimonies provided by the witnesses were fabricated, and the evidence presented was insufficient to support a conviction.
The ruling marks an important step forward in a case that has attracted significant public attention due to its disturbing nature and the involvement of a former high-ranking political figure. The case has been set for mentioning on February 25, 2025, where the court will issue further directions on the matter.
This ruling highlights the ongoing judicial process in Kenya’s criminal justice system and the efforts to bring those responsible for heinous crimes to justice.
