The High Court has ruled that former Migori County Governor Okoth Obado and his co-accused have a case to answer in the 2018 murder of Sharon Otieno.
However, the court has acquitted all the accused persons in the murder of baby Sharon, the unborn child Otieno carried at the time of her death.
The ruling follows arguments presented by the prosecution at the close of their case in 2024, urging the court to find that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had established sufficient evidence to require Obado, Michael Oyamo, and Casper Ojwang to present their defense.
Prosecution’s Case
The prosecution, led by Prosecutor Gichuhi, told Justice Cecilia Githua that while the court was not yet required to determine the guilt or innocence of the accused, it had to establish whether the available evidence was strong enough to put them on their defense.
According to the prosecution, the murders of Sharon and her unborn child were premeditated and executed through coordinated efforts. They argued that each accused person played a strategic role in the abduction and subsequent double homicide.
Forensic Evidence
The court heard that the cause of Sharon Otieno’s death was severe hemorrhage due to penetrating force trauma, as confirmed by Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor.
Dr. Oduor further testified that upon conducting a postmortem examination, he discovered a fully formed fetus in Otieno’s uterus. The fetus had suffered sharp abdominal trauma, leading to its death.
The prosecution maintained that this evidence proved beyond doubt that the accused had the requisite malice aforethought to commit the heinous crime.
The Murder of Sharon Otieno
Sharon Otieno, a Rongo University student, was abducted and murdered in 2018 when she was seven months pregnant. Her body was later found dumped in Kodera Forest, located in Oyugis, Homa Bay County.
What Next for Obado?
The case has drawn nationwide attention due to the high-profile individuals implicated in the murder.
Following the High Court’s ruling, Obado, Oyamo, and Ojwang will now be required to present their defense against the charges. The case continues, with further proceedings expected in the coming weeks.
