Justice awaits: Court sets date for Obado's sentencing in Sharon's murder case
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- The High Court set the sentencing date for former Migori governor Zachary Okoth Obado and his two co-convicts
- Obado was convicted alongside his former personal assistant and a former Migori county clerk for the 2018 murder of university student Sharon Otieno
- Sharon Otieno's family disclosed it spent approximately KSh 4.7 million over the nearly eight-year court battle, forcing them to sell land and livestock
Nairobi: The High Court has fixed September 16, 2026, as the date on which former Migori governor Zachary Okoth Obado and his two co-convicts will learn their punishment for the 2018 murder of ex-Rongo University student Sharon Otieno.
The sentencing date was confirmed on Tuesday, August 18, after a probation officer presented a victim impact report outlining the toll Sharon's killing has had on her family.
Justice Cecilia Githua directed both the prosecution and the defence to file and exchange their sentencing submissions ahead of the hearing, with the court set to weigh the victim impact report alongside those submissions before determining the appropriate sentence.
Conviction and roles of Obado, 2 co-convicts
On July 23, Justice Githua found Obado, his former personal assistant Michael Oyamo, and former Migori county clerk Caspal Obiero guilty of Sharon's murder, ruling that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt through a complete chain of circumstantial evidence.
The court found that each of the three men played a distinct part in the crime. Obado was found to have supplied the motive, instigation, and funds behind the killing, while Oyamo facilitated the execution of the plan.
Obiero, meanwhile, provided logistical support and assisted in efforts to conceal the crime.
The prosecution built its case using 42 witnesses and relied heavily on circumstantial evidence.
Sharon Otieno's family seeks compensation
As the case moves to the sentencing phase, Sharon's family has spoken about the financial strain the proceedings imposed over nearly eight years.
The family disclosed that it spent approximately KSh 4.7 million pursuing justice, a burden so heavy it forced them to sell land and a cow to meet the costs. The family is now seeking compensation for those expenses.
Additionally, the family wants Obado to give them the car and house he had initially promised their late daughter, according to the Victim Impact Statement produced in court.
All three convicts will remain in custody until the September 16 hearing, when the court will determine the sentences to be imposed.
How was Sharon Otieno killed?
Meanwhile, a postmortem conducted by Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor established that Sharon was strangled to death. She died due to excessive bleeding caused by multiple stab wounds.
She was pregnant with the former county boss's child at the time of her death.
The court found that the murder took place as Obado attempted to avoid shame and embarrassment if the news went public.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.