Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado is gearing up for a high-stakes courtroom battle as he prepares to defend himself against murder charges in April. The court has ruled that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has established a prima facie case against Obado and his co-accused, Michael Oyamo and Caspal Obiero, over the brutal murder of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno.
The defense hearing is scheduled to run from April 23 to April 25, 2025, a critical moment in a case that has gripped the nation for years. This follows the conclusion of the prosecution’s case in June 2024, during which a formidable legal team—led by prosecutors Catherine Mwaniki, Gikui Gichui, Allen Mulama, and Bessie Gikonyo—presented 42 witnesses, including a journalist, to build a damning case against the former county boss and his aides.
Obado has informed Lady Justice Cecilia Githua that he will take the stand and provide sworn evidence in his defense. In addition, he intends to call two witnesses to support his case. Meanwhile, his co-accused, Oyamo and Obiero, will have their moment in court from May 19 to May 23, 2025, as they present their defenses separately.
The trio faces charges over the gruesome murder of Sharon Otieno, who was killed on the night of September 3, 2018, in a forest in Homa Bay County—a case that sent shockwaves across the country. As the trial heads into the defense phase, the nation watches with bated breath, awaiting a legal showdown that could seal the fate of the once-powerful governor.
