The conviction of former Migori Governor Okoth Obado for the murder of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno marks the conclusion of one of Kenya’s longest-running and most closely watched murder trials. The case, which began in September 2018, attracted nationwide attention because it involved a sitting governor, allegations of an extramarital affair, political influence and the brutal killing of a pregnant university student.
Who was Sharon Otieno?
Sharon Otieno was a 26-year-old student at Rongo University pursuing a degree in medical records. At the time of her death, she was seven months pregnant. Court proceedings later established that Obado was the father of the unborn child after DNA evidence confirmed paternity.
The prosecution argued that Sharon had been involved in an intimate relationship with Obado and had sought financial support, including a house and land, after becoming pregnant.
How the murder unfolded
The events leading to Sharon’s death began on September 3, 2018, when she travelled with Nation journalist Barrack Oduor to meet individuals believed to be representatives of Governor Obado over the pregnancy.
Instead, the pair were ambushed and abducted by unknown assailants in Homa Bay County. Oduor managed to escape by jumping from the moving vehicle, but Sharon remained in the hands of the attackers.
Two days later, on September 5, Sharon’s body was discovered in a forest near Oyugis in Homa Bay County. She had suffered multiple stab wounds, while an autopsy later confirmed that she and her unborn baby had died from the injuries.
The killing sparked public outrage and prompted a major police investigation.
Investigation points to Obado
Investigators pieced together evidence using mobile phone records, witness testimony, financial transactions and vehicle tracking data.
The prosecution told the court that Obado had earlier given Sharon KSh30,000 to procure an abortion, an action the trial judge later described as an early indication of criminal intent after Sharon refused to terminate the pregnancy.
Investigators also established that the tracking system on the vehicle allegedly used by the abductors was switched off on the day Sharon was abducted, making it difficult to trace its movements.
Arrests and trial
Police arrested Obado alongside his former personal assistant Michael Oyamo and former Migori County clerical officer Caspal Obiero.
All three denied the charges when they appeared before court in October 2018. Obado was released on a KSh5 million cash bail and remained out on bond as the trial progressed.
Over nearly eight years, the prosecution presented 42 witnesses, relying largely on circumstantial evidence to demonstrate that the three accused acted together in planning and executing the murder.
The defence maintained that Obado was in Nairobi on the day Sharon was killed and therefore could not have participated in the crime. However, prosecutors argued that physical absence did not absolve him because he allegedly planned and financed the murder.
Why the court convicted the three
On July 23, 2026, High Court Judge Cecilia Githua found Obado, Oyamo and Obiero guilty of Sharon Otieno’s murder.
The judge ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
According to the judgment, Obado provided the motive and financial support for the murder, while Oyamo coordinated the execution of the plan and Obiero played a logistical role, including facilitating efforts to conceal the crime.
Justice Githua also rejected Obado’s alibi that he was in Nairobi, ruling that criminal responsibility extends to those who plan and direct a crime even if they are not physically present when it is committed.
Following the conviction, the court cancelled the accused persons’ bond terms and ordered that they remain in custody pending sentencing.
Why the unborn child’s charge failed
Although Sharon was seven months pregnant, the accused were not convicted over the death of her unborn baby.
Earlier in the proceedings, the court ruled that there was insufficient legal basis to place the three on their defence on the separate count relating to the unborn child, leaving only the murder charge concerning Sharon Otieno.
Why the case mattered
The Sharon Otieno murder case became one of Kenya’s most significant criminal trials because it tested whether a powerful political leader could be held accountable for a serious crime.
It also highlighted concerns about gender-based violence, abuse of power and the protection of witnesses, while exposing the role of circumstantial evidence, DNA analysis and digital forensic investigations in securing convictions.
With the guilty verdict now delivered, Obado and his two co-convicts await sentencing, bringing to a close a case that has shaped Kenya’s criminal justice discourse for nearly eight years.
