Nearly eight years after the killing of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno and her unborn son, the High Court will on Thursday deliver judgment in one of Kenya’s most closely followed murder trials.
Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado, his former personal assistant Michael Oyamo and former county aide Caspal Obiero are charged with two counts of murder over the deaths of Sharon and her unborn child. The case has attracted nationwide attention since 2018, raising questions about justice, gender-based violence and abuse of power.
Sharon, who was 26 years old and about seven months pregnant, disappeared on September 3, 2018, after attending a meeting in Rongo Town alongside journalist Barack Oduor. Court proceedings heard that the two were allegedly abducted shortly after leaving the meeting. Oduor escaped from the moving vehicle and alerted police, while Sharon’s body was discovered the following day in a thicket near Kodera Forest in Homa Bay County.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence from 42 witnesses, alongside electronic evidence including mobile phone records, SMS messages and WhatsApp conversations in an effort to link the accused to the crime.
Ahead of Thursday’s judgment, the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya), which has been holding a watching brief for Sharon’s family throughout the proceedings, expressed confidence that the court’s decision will be based solely on the evidence and the law.
“FIDA-Kenya is watching brief for Sharon Otieno’s family and has continued to stand with them throughout the judicial process as they seek justice for the tragic loss of their daughter and her unborn child,” the organization said.
FIDA noted that the trial spanned several years, with proceedings affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and adjustments to court operations. The organization said it has remained alongside Sharon’s family as they pursued justice and reaffirmed its confidence in the judicial process.
“We have confidence in the administration of justice and will issue a further statement after the High Court delivers its judgment,” FIDA said.
Today’s decision is expected to bring to a close a criminal trial that has remained in the national spotlight for almost eight years and determine whether the three accused bear criminal responsibility for the deaths of Sharon Otieno and her unborn son.
