NAIROBI, Kenya- Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado is expected to know his fate today as the High Court delivers judgment in the high-profile murder case over the 2018 killing of university student Sharon Otieno and her unborn child, bringing to a close one of Kenya’s longest-running and most closely watched criminal trials.
The judgment, set to be delivered by Justice Cecilia Githua at the Milimani High Court, will determine whether Obado, his former personal assistant Michael Oyamo and former Migori County clerk Caspal Obiero are guilty of the murder charges they have faced since 2018.
The ruling comes after nearly eight years of investigations, hearings and legal arguments that captivated the country following the brutal killing of the then 26-year-old Rongo University student.
Sharon disappeared on September 3, 2018, after leaving a meeting in Nairobi. Her body was discovered the following day in a forest near Kodera in Homa Bay County.
She had suffered multiple stab wounds and was several months pregnant. Prosecutors alleged that the unborn child was fathered by Obado, an allegation that became central to the prosecution’s case.
The three accused were charged with two counts of murder relating to Sharon and her unborn baby. They denied the charges and were released on bond before the trial commenced.
During the lengthy proceedings, the prosecution called 42 witnesses and presented 81 exhibits, including forensic evidence, digital records and witness testimony, in an effort to link the accused to the killing.
After reviewing the evidence, the court ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case, requiring all three accused to be placed on their defence.
The defence, on the other hand, maintained that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and urged the court to acquit the accused.
The judgment was initially scheduled for May 29, 2026, but was postponed to July 23 after the court said it required more time to prepare the decision because of the voluminous proceedings, exhibits and submissions filed by the parties.
The outcome is expected to have significant legal and public interest, given the prominence of the accused and the widespread attention the case has attracted since Sharon’s death in September 2018.
Families of the deceased, the accused, lawyers, civil society groups and members of the public are expected to attend the court session as the judge delivers the long-awaited verdict.