Obado guilty of Sharon Otieno murder, court rules

Former Migori Governor Zachariah Okoth Obado has been convicted of the 2018 murder of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno, the Milimani High Court ruled Thursday. Justice Cecilia Githua found Obado and his former Personal Assistant Michael Oyamo and former County Clerk Caspal Obiero guilty of the murder.

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I do not have any hesitation in finding that Sharon's death was unlawful. It was not caused by natural causes and it was not an accident.

The judge declared Sharon's death unlawful, stating the prosecution had established all legal elements to prove murder. Sharon, seven months pregnant at the time, died from multiple stab wounds and strangulation. "I do not have any hesitation in finding that Sharon's death was unlawful. It was not caused by natural causes and it was not an accident," the judge stated.

Although no witnesses directly saw the killing, the court found a strong chain of circumstantial evidence pointed to the accused. Justice Githua determined Obado had a significant motive to eliminate Sharon to prevent their illicit relationship and her pregnancy from becoming public knowledge. "The first accused had a strong motive to ensure that his illicit relationship was not known by the public, thus making him a beneficiary of the death of the deceased," she ruled.

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The first accused had a strong motive to ensure that his illicit relationship was not known by the public, thus making him a beneficiary of the death of the deceased.

The court rejected Obado's defense that his affair was already public. Evidence presented included Sharon informing her mother about the pregnancy and Obado's offer of Sh30,000 for an abortion, which she refused. The prosecution presented 42 witnesses and 81 exhibits during the trial.

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It cannot be entirely true that members of the public knew about his relationship with the deceased.