Obado Claims Sharon Otieno's Murderers Remain at Large, Denies Involvement

Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado has denied any involvement in the brutal murder of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno and her unborn child.

Obado, along with his personal assistant Michael Oyamo and Caspal Obiero, are the accused persons charged with Sharon's murder which occurred on September 3, 2018, in Homa Bay County. In his defense, Obado's legal team, led by Senior Counsel Kiko Kilukumi and Rogers Sagana, argue that there is no direct evidence linking their client to the crime. They contend that the prosecution's case against Obado is entirely circumstantial, relying solely on the former governor's relationship with the victim, her pregnancy, and the financial support he provided her.

Kilukumi had submitted that Obado was uncertain whether he was responsible for Sharon's pregnancy, which was later confirmed by a DNA test. However, he maintains that Obado took responsibility for the situation and made plans to support Sharon and the child, including arranging to purchase her a home in Homa Bay and providing her with at least Sh200,000 for her upkeep. The defense counsel argues that the actual perpetrators of the crime are still at large, stating that Sharon and a witness were lured into a vehicle with four men inside, and it was these individuals who ultimately killed her.

Kilukumi questions why the taxi driver Jackson Gombe who allegedly transported Sharon to the scene of the crime, was never charged. In contrast, the prosecution maintains that there is a clear chain of evidence that ties the accused persons to the murder. They presented forensic and medical evidence as well as testimony from expert witnesses to support their claims. The prosecution also alleges that Oyamo fabricated a story about his own kidnapping on the night of the incident to conceal his involvement in the crime.

"We believe that from the evidence provided, the exhibits admitted, we have been able to show the court a network of collaborated evidence revealing how the accused persons worked together to abduct and eventually murder the two deceased persons," the Prosecution says.

The case has garnered national attention, with 42 witnesses testifying over the course of the six-year-old trial. The lead investigator Nicholas Ole Sena has since testified that the vehicle used in the abduction and death of Sharon Otieno had been tampered with to conceal its movements on the day of the incident. As the hearing continues, the court will consider the submissions from both the defense and the prosecution to determine whether the accused persons should be placed on their defense or acquitted.