One of Kenya’s most shocking murder cases was that of Sharon Otieno, a 26-year-old student at Rongo University.
In 2018, she became pregnant and alleged that the father was then Migori Governor, Okoth Obado. The relationship and pregnancy became a major public controversy after she sought help from a journalist to publicize her story.
Who Is Okoth Obado?
Okoth Obado was the governor of Migori county.
The soft-spoken politician was high-flying, serving his second term.
In the rough and murky politics of South Nyanza, Obado traversed the political landscape like a colossus.
Having begun his political career in the trade union movement, particularly within the sugarcane-growing sector, he built strong connections with grassroots sugarcane farmers and workers, who often defended him, sometimes with their tools of trade.
He commanded a fiercely loyal support base that responded to his calls at a moment’s notice. Yet, despite the tough image he projected in politics, Obado’s demeanour in person was strikingly different.
He rarely raised his voice and could hardly be heard from the back of a room. Yet he was a politician of steely resolve.
His polite demeanour often sent the wrong signal to his political opponents.
Those who underestimated him did so at their own peril.
Tragedy
On September 4, 2018, Sharon Otieno was found dead in Kodera Forest in Uriri, Homa Bay County.
The horrible death marked a turning point in the life of a politician whose career had reached the highest levels of county leadership.
Obado soon became the prime murder suspect, with his relationship with the deceased taking centre stage as investigators pieced together what became one of the country’s most high-profile murder cases.
Obado’s Defence
Obado, shortly after the news of Sharon Otieno’s murder went public, held a press briefing to clear his name.
He discarded any rumours linking him to the murder, and called on all security agencies to speed up investigations into the heinous act.
He further condemned the crime, distancing himself from the incident which he said was causing him to haves leepless moments.
The events leading to her death
On September 3, 2018, Sharon met with journalist Barrack Oduor at a hotel in Rongo.
Sharon and the journalist were reportedly lured to the meeting under the pretext of resolving the matter, in which Sgaron was on the vergeof publicising her relationshipwith Obado.
As they left, armed men abducted both of them. The journalist managed to escape after jumping from the vehicle, but Sharon remained in the kidnappers’ hands.
The following day, Sharon’s body was discovered in a forested area in Homa Bay County.
She had suffered multiple stab wounds and had been strangled. She was about seven months pregnant, and her unborn child passed on too.
Police investigations relied on witness testimony, phone records, forensic evidence, and other circumstantial evidence.
Prosecutors argued that Sharon had become a political liability because of the pregnancy and that the murder had been planned.
During the trial, the prosecution called 42 witnesses and presented 81 exhibits.
Okoth Obado denied ordering or participating in the murder. He was charged alongside his former personal assistant, Michael Oyamo, and former Migori County official Caspal Obiero.
Court judgment
On July 23, 2026, the High Court found Okoth Obado, Michael Oyamo, and Caspal Obiero guilty of Sharon Otieno’s murder. Justice Cecilia Githua ruled that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the three acted with a common intention in planning and carrying out the killing.
Sentencing is expected to follow after mitigation, 21 days after conviction, which will be on August 13, 2026
The case drew widespread attention in Kenya because it involved a senior political figure and raised concerns about violence against women, abuse of power, and accountability.
