NAIROBI, Kenya – The high-profile murder trial of former Migori Governor Okoth Obado was adjourned on Thursday after his co-accused, Michael Oyamo, requested more time to respond to the explosive testimony delivered by Obado a day earlier.
Obado, who is accused alongside his former personal assistant Oyamo and aide Casper Obiero, testified on Wednesday that he had no involvement in the 2018 abduction and murder of Sharon Otieno, a university student and his then-girlfriend.
“I did not kill Sharon Otieno. I did not conspire with my two co-accused persons or anyone to kill the late Sharon Otieno,” Obado told Justice Cecilia Githua. “The killing—whether by my co-accused or anybody—did not have my involvement.”
The former county chief maintained that he was in Nairobi on the day Sharon was abducted and murdered, detailing a timeline of events and social visits, including an evening stop at Ida Odinga’s residence in Karen.
Obado admitted to having an affair with Sharon and confirmed he was the father of her unborn child.
Sharon was seven months pregnant when she was murdered, with a postmortem revealing she was stabbed eight times, including a fatal wound that killed the foetus.
Thursday’s proceedings were expected to feature Oyamo launching his defence, but his lawyer sought an adjournment, citing the need to internalise and respond to new information revealed by Obado’s testimony.
“Our expectation was that the first accused person (Obado) would call a witness today and that our client would start his defence on the dates in May,” the lawyer said. “My client needs time to internalise the evidence of the first accused and prepare adequately to respond to them.”
The prosecution opposed the adjournment, but Justice Githua ruled in favour of the defence, citing a misunderstanding regarding the hearing schedule.
“The second accused will need time to prepare and produce his witnesses, and as such, I will allow the adjournment for today,” the judge ruled.
The hearing was subsequently extended to May 19, after Oyamo’s lawyer informed the court of a personal emergency—his child is due to undergo surgery.
Lawyers from both the defence and prosecution, including those representing Sharon Otieno’s family, supported the extension.
“It is true, our colleague has had a sick child for a while now,” the prosecution confirmed, prompting Justice Githua to adjourn the case.
“In the face of such compelling reasons, the court allows the application for adjournment. We resume on May 19, 2025,” she said.
Sharon Otieno, 26, was abducted on September 3, 2018, and her body was later discovered in Kodera Forest, Homa Bay County.
The case has drawn national attention due to the involvement of high-profile political figures and the brutality of the murder.
