The gripping murder trial of former Migori Governor Okoth Obado resumes today at the High Court in Nairobi, as his former personal assistant and co-accused, Michael Oyamo, returns to the witness stand this time for a crucial cross-examination by the prosecution.
On Thursday, the courtroom was riveted as Oyamo delivered hours of testimony, painting a picture of his final interactions with university student Sharon Otieno and a protected witness identified only as “XYZ.” The three had met at the Gracia Hotel in Rongo, Migori County, on the eve of Sharon’s tragic abduction and subsequent murder, a crime that has haunted the nation since 2018.
According to Oyamo, the meeting was a peacemaking attempt, a tense rendezvous meant to ease rising friction between Sharon and XYZ. Though initially set to take place in Rodi Kopany, the group chose the more convenient location of Rongo.
In a move that raised eyebrows in court, Oyamo said Sharon offered money to XYZ, allegedly to make them “go away” and cut all ties. Oyamo personally handed her Ksh 50,000 at the hotel, saying it was partly for transport and partly for personal support. As she later stepped into a black Toyota Wish in the parking lot, he claimed he gave her another Ksh 50,000 before walking away from the scene and catching a boda boda, then a taxi, to Migori.
Oyamo firmly denied ever boarding the car with Sharon, and XYZ, the assistant, also accused, attempted to poke holes in the prosecution’s version of events. He rejected the testimony of a key witness who placed him in Uriri the morning of the murder and flatly denied fabricating medical documents, a detail that has loomed large in earlier proceedings.
In an emotional turn, Oyamo recounted his decision to cancel a trip to Nairobi upon hearing of Sharon’s disappearance. He voluntarily reported to the Uriri Police Station to give his side of the story, only to find himself behind bars shortly after.
As the court prepares for another day of intense legal drama, the public watches with bated breath. Oyamo remains defiant, distancing himself from the horrifying events that led to Sharon Otieno’s death. But will his version of the truth hold up under the prosecution’s fire?
Stay with us for the latest as the courtroom battle continues to unravel the mystery behind one of Kenya’s most high-profile murder cases.
