Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado and his two co-accused have been found guilty of murdering university student Sharon Otieno, ending one of Kenya’s most closely watched criminal trials that has lasted nearly eight years.
Justice Cecilia Githua on Thursday convicted Obado, his former personal assistant Michael Juma Oyamo and former Migori County clerk Caspal Ojwang Obiero after finding that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that they were responsible for the killing of the 26-year-old Rongo University student.
The judge ruled that the evidence presented before the court established a connection between the former governor and the killing, finding that Obado had a motive to eliminate Sharon because of the potential public embarrassment arising from their relationship.
“It is my considered view that Obado had a motive to eliminate Sharon in order to save himself from possible public embarrassment,” Justice Githua said.
The court found that Obado involved Oyamo and Obiero in the execution of the murder, with the judge stating that the former governor’s association with the two men was a key link in the prosecution’s case.
The conviction brings to a close a case that began in September 2018 and captured national attention after Sharon, who was seven months pregnant, was abducted and later found dead in Kodera Forest, Homa Bay County.
The night Sharon disappeared
Sharon disappeared on the night of September 3, 2018, after she and Nation journalist Barrack Oduor were confronted by armed men while travelling in Homa Bay.
Oduor escaped by jumping from the moving vehicle, but Sharon was taken away.
Her body was discovered the following day in a thicket in Kodera Forest.
A post-mortem examination showed that she died from injuries caused by multiple stab wounds. Investigators also established that she was about 28 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.
The murder investigation later revealed a relationship between Sharon and Obado, who was then serving as Migori governor.
DNA evidence presented during the trial confirmed that Obado was the father of Sharon’s unborn child, a revelation that became central to the prosecution’s argument on motive.
The prosecution told the court that the pregnancy and the possibility of public exposure created pressure on Obado, leading to the alleged plot to eliminate Sharon.
Court finds evidence linked the accused
The trial heard evidence from dozens of witnesses, including detectives, forensic experts and analysts who presented mobile phone data, communication records and other evidence linking the accused persons.
The prosecution argued that the murder was not a random act but a planned operation involving people close to the former governor.
In January 2025, Justice Githua ruled that the prosecution had established a case requiring Obado and his co-accused to defend themselves, allowing the trial to proceed to the defence stage.
The prosecution had earlier presented more than 40 witnesses during the trial, relying heavily on circumstantial evidence.
Obado maintained innocence
Throughout the proceedings, Obado denied involvement in Sharon’s murder.
The former governor admitted having a relationship with Sharon but insisted that the relationship was consensual and that he had no role in her death.
His defence team argued that the prosecution had failed to provide direct evidence placing him at the scene of the murder and that the case was based on assumptions.
Oyamo and Obiero also denied the charges and maintained that they had nothing to do with Sharon’s killing.
However, Justice Githua rejected the defence arguments, finding that the evidence presented by the prosecution formed a consistent chain pointing to the accused persons.
A case that shook Kenya’s political landscape
The murder of Sharon Otieno became one of the biggest criminal cases involving a sitting governor.
At the time of Sharon’s death, Obado was serving his first term as Migori governor after winning the 2017 General Election.
The case brought intense scrutiny on the intersection between political power, personal relationships and accountability among public officials.
It also sparked national conversations on violence against women, protection of vulnerable persons and the ability of the justice system to hold powerful individuals accountable.
Women rights organisations, including the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya), followed the case closely and repeatedly called for justice for Sharon and her family.
Long wait for justice
For Sharon’s family, Thursday’s conviction marked the end of a painful wait that began when her body was discovered nearly eight years ago.
The case experienced delays caused by legal applications, changes in court schedules and the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The High Court will now proceed to the sentencing stage, where the three convicts will be given an opportunity to present mitigation before the court determines the appropriate punishment.
The murder conviction carries a maximum penalty of death under Kenyan law, although courts have discretion when considering sentencing factors.
