The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has urged the Milimani High Court to convict former Migori Governor Zacharia Okoth Obado and two co-accused over the 2018 murder of university student Sharon Otieno.
During proceedings on Friday, Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Gikui Gichuhi presented a detailed account of what she described as a premeditated and coordinated scheme.
According to Gichuhi, the accused acted together with the clear intent to eliminate Sharon and silence a key witness, avoiding potential political repercussions and reputational damage to the former governor.
“The evidence illustrates a deliberate plan executed by the accused, with shared motives to ensure Sharon Otieno would not survive and the witness remained quiet,” Gichuhi told the court.
The co-accused, Michael Juma Oyamo and Casper Ojwang Obiero, were identified as central figures in the plot.
Court records show they were present at Graca Hotel on the night of 3rd September 2018, when Sharon and the witness were abducted.
Investigations revealed that the vehicle used, registration KCL 418K, is registered in Obiero’s wife’s name and driven by a long-time associate.
Prosecution relied on a combination of witness statements, forensic reports, cybercrime findings, and mobile phone data to tie the accused to the crime.
Gichuhi described the evidence as “pieces of a puzzle that collectively reveal the sequence of events leading to Sharon’s death.”
The DPP challenged the defence narrative as inconsistent and unsubstantiated, arguing there is no reasonable doubt regarding the involvement of Obado, Oyamo, and Obiero.
All three have been formally charged with murder, and the court has ruled they have a case to answer. Milimani High Court is set to announce the judgment date on 18th March 2026.
The case remains under national scrutiny due to its political implications and the severity of the crime, with calls from civil society for a swift and transparent legal process.