The High Court at Milimani has found former Migori Governor Okoth Obado, his former personal assistant Michael Oyamo, and former Migori County Clerk Caspal Obiero guilty of the murder of Sharon Otieno, concluding one of Kenya’s most closely followed criminal trials nearly eight years after the offence was committed.
Justice Cecilia Githua delivered the judgment on Thursday, holding that the prosecution had proved the charge of murder against all three accused persons beyond reasonable doubt.
“It is therefore my finding that the prosecution has proved its case against the first, second and third accused persons beyond reasonable doubt. I consequently find each accused guilty of the offence of murder,” Justice Githua ruled.
The judgment marks the end of the trial phase in a case that has remained before the courts since 2018 and now proceeds to sentencing.
Sharon Otieno, a 26-year-old Rongo University student, was reported missing on September 3, 2018, after leaving a hotel in Rongo, Migori County. Her body was later recovered in Kodera Forest, Homa Bay County.
A post-mortem examination established that she died from multiple stab wounds and extensive injuries. She was approximately seven months pregnant at the time of her death.
During the trial, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) presented evidence from 42 witnesses, including investigating officers, forensic experts, pathologists, telecommunications specialists and civilian witnesses.
The prosecution relied on mobile phone records, witness testimony, forensic findings and other circumstantial evidence in arguing that the three accused jointly participated in planning and executing the murder.
In her judgment, Justice Githua found that the prosecution had established an unbroken chain of circumstantial evidence linking the accused to the offence. The court further found that the evidence placed the three accused at the centre of events leading to Sharon Otieno’s abduction and subsequent killing.
Following the conviction, the court cancelled the bond terms that had allowed the three accused to remain out of custody during the trial.
Justice Githua ordered that Obado, Oyamo and Obiero be remanded pending sentencing and directed probation officers to prepare pre-sentence reports and victim impact assessments before the court determines the appropriate punishment.
Outside the courtroom, lawyers representing Sharon Otieno’s family welcomed the judgment. Family lawyer Victor Hezekiah described the ruling as a significant milestone for the victim’s family.
“We are grateful to the court for the judgment that has been rendered. We believe justice has finally been served to Sharon and her family,” Hezekiah said after the ruling.
The case attracted nationwide attention because it involved a serving county governor at the time of the offence and allegations surrounding the killing of a pregnant university student.
Throughout the proceedings, all three accused denied the charge and maintained their innocence. However, after evaluating the evidence presented over the course of the trial, the court found that the prosecution had met the legal threshold required for a conviction.
The High Court will now proceed to the sentencing phase after receiving mitigation from the convicted persons and considering the probation and victim impact reports. Although they have now been convicted, the three retain the constitutional right to challenge both the conviction and any sentence that may be imposed through the appellate process.
The conviction concludes one of Kenya’s longest-running murder trials, bringing to an end nearly eight years of court proceedings while opening the final phase of the case before sentencing.