Former Kenyan county governor Okoth Obado has been found guilty of murdering a pregnant 26-year-old university student with whom he had been having an affair.In 2018, Sharon Otieno’s bloodied body was found dumped in a thicket outside a small town in western Kenya.
Obado, governor of Migori County at the time, and two co-accused were convicted on Thursday of arranging the killing. Otieno’s death sparked protests and highlighted the extent of violence against women in the country.
A national survey found that in 2022 at least 34% of women said they had experienced physical violence. “Obado orchestrated a plot to eliminate Otieno,” Judge Cecilia Githua said, reading out her ruling, which was broadcast live on television. He “supplied motive, instigation and funds to finance the criminal enterprise”.
He served as principal of Chung’e Secondary School before entering elective politics. He later became chairman of the Kenya Sugar Board.
Obado first sought the Uriri parliamentary seat through the ODM nomination process in 2007. He later contested the 2013 Migori governor election on a People’s Democratic Party ticket. He defeated the ODM candidate and became Migori’s first governor. His election survived a prolonged court battle that reached the Supreme Court.
Obado later joined ODM and secured a second term in 2017. He completed his tenure in 2022. He then returned to PDP and supported William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza presidential campaign.
Justice Githua found that Obado’s relationship with Sharon and her pregnancy formed the foundation of the events that culminated in her killing.
The court found that Obado pressured Sharon to terminate the pregnancy. It also found that he sent her KSh30,000, withdrew financial support and resumed contact after learning that she intended to disclose their relationship.
The judge rejected Obado’s defence that he was willing to support Sharon and the unborn child. She found that the evidence did not support that position.
The court also found that Oyamo acted as an intermediary. It held that a proxy was used to send Sharon transport money. The judge said the use of intermediaries was intended to conceal the identities of those involved.
Justice Githua ruled that the meeting at Graca Hotel was intended to hand Sharon over to her killers. The court found that Obado financed the operation, while Obiero facilitated the logistics.
