Security heightened outside Court.
Security was heightened at the Milimani High Court on Thursday as the court delivered its judgement in the high-profile murder trial of former Migori Governor Okoth Obado and his two co-accused.
Several police officers were deployed within and around the Milimani Law Courts, taking up positions at strategic points across the court compound as proceedings got underway before Justice Cecilia Githua.
The officers were seen entering the court premises in groups as the judgement proceedings continued.
Some were stationed at the main entrance to the court building, while others patrolled different sections of the compound, monitoring movement in and out of the premises.
Some of the officers were dressed in police uniforms, while others wore face masks as they maintained a visible security presence throughout the proceedings.
A spot check by The Star established that the officers were armed with firearms and other security equipment.
They were seen conversing in small groups while keeping watch over the court premises as the judgement was being delivered.
The increased deployment coincided with the delivery of one of Kenya's most closely watched criminal judgements.
Court officials also put measures in place to regulate access to the courtroom, with only accredited journalists, advocates, and parties directly involved in the case allowed into the packed courtroom.
Inside the courtroom, attendees listened as Justice Githua read the lengthy judgement, outlining her analysis of the prosecution and defence evidence, including findings on Obado's relationship with Sharon Otieno, her pregnancy, and the events leading up to her death.
Obado appeared in court alongside his former personal assistant, Michael Oyamo, and former Migori County Clerk Caspal Obiero, who were jointly charged in the case.
The prosecution alleged that the three were involved in the murder of Sharon, a 26-year-old Rongo University student who was about seven months pregnant at the time of her death. They denied the charges throughout the trial.
Sharon's body was discovered in a thicket near Kodera Forest in Homa Bay County after she was allegedly abducted alongside Nation Media Group journalist Barrack Oduor.
The case spanned nearly eight years.
