Nearly eight years after the gruesome murder of university student Sharon Otieno shocked the nation, the High Court on Thursday found former Migori Governor Okoth Obado, his former personal assistant Michael Oyamo, and former Migori County Clerk Caspal Obiero guilty of her murder.
In a judgment that marks one of Kenya’s most significant criminal convictions involving a high-profile political figure, the court ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, bringing to a close a trial that captivated the country and tested the resilience of Kenya’s justice system.
The court found that the evidence presented by the prosecution—including witness testimonies, forensic evidence, telephone records, and circumstantial evidence—was sufficient to establish the guilt of the three accused.
A murder that shook Kenya
Sharon Otieno, a 26-year-old second-year medical records student at Rongo University, disappeared on the evening of September 3, 2018, after leaving a meeting at Graca Hotel in Rongo alongside Nation Media Group journalist Barrack Oduor.
The pair had reportedly gone to meet individuals believed to have been sent by Governor Obado over the paternity of Sharon’s unborn child. Shortly after leaving the hotel, armed men intercepted their vehicle, abducted the two, assaulted the journalist and bundled Sharon into another vehicle before speeding away.
The following day, Sharon’s body was discovered in Kodera Forest in Homa Bay County. She had been stabbed multiple times and was several months pregnant. The unborn child also died.
The chilling murder sparked nationwide outrage, with women’s rights groups, religious leaders and civil society organisations demanding swift justice and accountability.
Investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) eventually linked the murder to a broader conspiracy involving individuals close to the former governor. Prosecutors argued that the killing was intended to permanently silence Sharon amid claims that she was carrying Obado’s child.
Long road to justice
The case became one of Kenya’s longest-running and most closely watched murder trials. Over the years, dozens of witnesses testified, while forensic experts presented evidence placing the accused at critical stages of the alleged murder plot.
The proceedings were marked by repeated adjournments, legal applications, changes in defence strategy and intense public scrutiny.
Thursday’s conviction is therefore being viewed as a watershed moment for Kenya’s criminal justice system, reinforcing the principle that political influence does not shield suspects from accountability.
Reactions
Lawyers representing Sharon Otieno’s family welcomed the verdict, describing it as a significant step toward justice after years of painful court proceedings.
“This judgment restores faith in the justice system. While nothing can bring Sharon back, the court has affirmed that those responsible for taking her life must be held accountable,” one of the family’s legal representatives said outside the courtroom.
Women’s rights organisations also hailed the ruling as a victory in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide.
“This verdict sends a powerful message that violence against women cannot be normalised or ignored, regardless of the status of those accused,” a representative of a women’s rights lobby said.
Legal analysts noted that the judgment underscores the importance of painstaking investigations and the role of forensic evidence in securing convictions in complex murder cases.
Sentencing awaits
With the conviction now secured, the case moves to the sentencing phase, where the court will determine the punishment to be imposed on the three convicts. Under Kenyan law, murder attracts severe penalties, with sentencing determined by the court after considering mitigating and aggravating factors.
For Sharon Otieno’s family, Thursday’s ruling represents the culmination of nearly eight years of anguish, persistence and hope that justice would ultimately prevail.
For the country, the verdict closes one of Kenya’s darkest chapters in recent political history while reaffirming the constitutional principle that no one—regardless of wealth, office or influence—is above the law.
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