The identity and whereabouts of the two men who carried out the actual killing of university student Sharon Otieno remain a mystery, even after the conviction of former Migori Governor Okoth Obado and his two co-accused.
In her judgment on Thursday, High Court judge Cecilia Githua found that Obado, his personal assistant Michael Oyamo and Caspal Obiero acted in concert with other people who were not before the court to execute the murder.
"Having carefully appraised the evidence, I find that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused persons acted jointly with others not before the court in furtherance of a criminal enterprise that resulted in Sharon's death," Justice Githua ruled.
The judge found that Obado had the motive and financed the plot, Oyamo coordinated its execution, while Obiero provided logistical support and helped conceal the crime.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that on the day of the murder, Oyamo invited Sharon and a protected witness, identified only as XYZ, to Graca Hotel, where he claimed he would hand them money to stop them from publicising Sharon's affair with Obado and her pregnancy.
After they arrived, Oyamo allegedly told them the hotel was not suitable for the discussion or the exchange of money. He then directed Sharon and XYZ to a waiting taxi.
The taxi was driven by Jackson Gombe, who was initially arrested over the murder before turning state witness. Sharon and XYZ sat in the back seat, before the two men entered the vehicle and sandwiched them.
The late Sharon Otieno.
Photo credit: Pool
As the vehicle headed towards Kodera, the two men interrogated Sharon about her relationship with Obado and questioned XYZ over his pursuit of the story. Sharon reportedly broke down in tears, but the men assured her they were taking her to the ‘governor’.
According to the evidence, one of the men then began strangling XYZ. During the struggle, he managed to open the door and jump from the moving vehicle. He fled to a nearby homestead as one of the attackers briefly chased him before giving up.
Gombe testified that the journey continued to a forested area, where he was instructed to stop the vehicle and switch off its lights. The two men allegedly took Sharon into the forest, where they raped and killed her.
Investigators later recovered used condoms, a sachet of illicit brew, and Sharon's shoes and clothes at the scene. Her body was found naked in a pool of blood, having suffered seven stab wounds, including one that penetrated her abdomen.
About 20 minutes later, Gombe said the two men returned and told him they had taken Sharon to the "governor" before they drove towards Uriri.
"It is clear from the evidence that Sharon died as a result of multiple and severe injuries targeted at her vital organs. The pathologist concluded that she died from severe haemorrhage. The prosecution has proved that her death was not accidental," Justice Githua said.
Sharon, 26, was a second-year diploma student in public health at Rongo University and was 28 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.
