The father of slain university student Sharon Otieno has told the High Court that he would not oppose a non-custodial sentence for former Migori Governor Okoth Obado, saying Obado has shown remorse and initiated reconciliation with the family. Douglas Zachariah Otieno made the remarks during sentencing proceedings for Obado and his co-convicts, Michael Juma Oyamo and Caspal Ojwang Obiero.
Addressing the court, Otieno said he had remained silent about his daughter’s killing for nine years but decided to speak because of the significance of the sentencing proceedings. “I thank the court for granting me the opportunity today to speak about my daughter’s death in this court. For nine years I haven’t talked about it,” he said.
Otieno told the court that Obado had reached out to the family through relatives who visited his home seeking reconciliation. “He sent his relatives to my home for a reconciliation. That is why I have come down to this end to talk to him. If the court agrees for non-custodial, that will be okay with me because he is remorseful,” Otieno told the court.
However, Sharon’s father struck a markedly different tone when addressing Oyamo and Obiero, saying he remained deeply bitter towards the two. According to Otieno, his anger stemmed from his belief that the two were among the last people seen with his daughter before she was killed. “But I am too bitter today seeing Oyamo and Caspal, since they were last seen with my daughter until she was killed,” he said.
In an emotional statement, Otieno used graphic imagery to convey the depth of his anger towards the two men. “If I could be a dog today, I could bite them and lick their blood the same way dogs licked my daughter’s blood,” he told the court.
Otieno further told the court that, unlike Obado, he did not believe Oyamo and Obiero had demonstrated remorse or sought reconciliation with Sharon’s family. “The two aren’t remorseful up to this time,” he said.
The sentencing proceedings follow the High Court’s July 23, 2026 conviction of Obado, Oyamo and Obiero for Sharon Otieno’s murder. Justice Cecilia Githua found that the prosecution had proved the murder case against the three beyond reasonable doubt.
