Obado Sentencing Delayed to November 27 as High Court Weighs Mitigation in Sharon Otieno Murder

NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado and his two co-convicts will have to wait until November 27 to learn the sentences they will receive for the murder of university student Sharon Otieno.

The High Court on Wednesday, September 16, completed the mitigation stage of the case but deferred the sentencing ruling after hearing submissions from the prosecution, defence and Sharon’s family.

Justice Cecilia Githua said the court would now consider all the material placed before it before deciding the appropriate sentences.

The delay means the nearly eight-year-old case will remain before the court for several more weeks, despite the convictions already having been entered against Obado, Michael Juma Oyamo and Caspal Ajwang Obiero.

“The court has been informed by the parties, together with the written submissions on litigation, and will deliver its ruling on sentence on the 27th of November,” Justice Githua said.

The judge said the court would consider the issues raised during Wednesday’s proceedings alongside the written mitigation submissions and other material already filed.

The sentencing decision will take into account the probation reports, the victim impact statement, submissions from the prosecution and mitigation presented on behalf of the three convicts.

Sharon’s family tells court of years of pain

The sentencing stage has brought the impact of Sharon’s death back into focus, nearly eight years after she was killed.

Sharon was 26 and about seven months pregnant when she died in September 2018. She was a second-year Rongo University student studying for a diploma in Medical Records.

Her body was later found in a thicket near Kodera Forest in Homa Bay County after she had been abducted alongside Nation Media Group journalist Barrack Oduor. Oduor escaped from the vehicle by jumping out while it was moving.

In their victim impact statement, Sharon’s relatives told the court that her death had left them facing both emotional and financial difficulties.

The family said it had spent about Sh1.2 million attending court proceedings and another Sh3.5 million on funeral expenses. They told the court they had been forced to sell a one-acre piece of land and a cow to meet some of the costs.

They also raised concerns about supporting Sharon’s children, siblings and ageing parents.

At the same time, the family indicated that it had forgiven the person concerned and was open to reconciliation, while still asking the court to impose punishment for the offence.

Obado asks for a non-custodial sentence

Obado, 64, has asked the court to consider a non-custodial sentence.

His mitigation has cited his age, health and the length of time the case has taken.

However, despite asking for leniency, Obado has continued to deny participating in Sharon’s killing.

According to his pre-sentence report, he maintained that he did not murder Sharon or take part in the killing. He also expressed a desire for reconciliation with her family.

The probation assessment is among the material now before the judge as she considers the appropriate punishment.

Oyamo, Obado’s former personal assistant, also expressed regret following his conviction. The pre-sentence report said he reflected on what it described as misplaced loyalty to his former boss.

Obiero, a former Migori County official, similarly denied participating in the murder but acknowledged the pain suffered by Sharon’s family and expressed regret over the consequences of the events.

Conviction followed nearly eight years of proceedings

The sentencing stage follows the July 23 conviction of the three men.

Justice Githua found that the prosecution had proved the murder case against Obado, Oyamo and Obiero beyond reasonable doubt.

The court relied largely on circumstantial evidence and found an unbroken chain linking the three men to the events surrounding Sharon’s abduction and death.

The prosecution called 42 witnesses and presented 81 exhibits during the trial, which lasted for more than seven years.

The judge found that the three had played different roles in the events that culminated in Sharon’s murder.

Following their conviction, their bond terms were revoked and they remained in custody pending sentencing.

The July judgment brought the question of guilt to an end. The issue now before the court is the appropriate sentence for each of the three convicted men.

For Sharon’s family, however, Wednesday’s proceedings also underscored that the consequences of her death have extended far beyond the courtroom.

The court will return to the matter on November 27, 2026, when Justice Githua is expected to deliver the sentencing ruling.

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.