Sharon Otieno/HANDOUT
Nearly eight years after the brutal murder of university student Sharon Otieno and her unborn child, the case remains one of Kenya's most closely watched criminal trials.
On Thursday, former Migori Governor Okoth Obado and his two co-accused are expected to learn their fate when the High Court delivers its judgement in a case that has captivated the nation since 2018.
The verdict will mark a significant milestone in a case that
sparked widespread public outrage, prompted intense media scrutiny and
reignited conversations about violence against women, abuse of power and access
to justice.
Sharon was 26 years old when she was killed in September 2018. She was a student at Rongo University, a mother and an expectant parent whose life was cut short in circumstances that shocked the country.
Born and raised in a rural village in Homa Bay County, Sharon came from a modest family.
She was one of four children born to parents who worked as teachers while also engaging in small-scale farming to support the family. Those who knew her described her as hardworking and determined to improve her future through education.
She attended local schools before enrolling at Rongo University in 2016. As a non-residential student, Sharon commuted from her home to the university, balancing academic responsibilities with family life.
Friends and classmates remember her as humble, generous and reserved. She was also known for her keen interest in fashion and maintained a relatively private lifestyle.
In early 2018, Sharon deferred her studies as she prepared for the birth of her second child. At the time of her death, she was approximately seven months pregnant with a baby boy.
Her life took a tragic turn in late August and early September 2018, when events surrounding her pregnancy and her reported relationship with then Migori Governor Okoth Obado became the subject of national attention.
On September 3, 2018, Sharon and journalist Barack Oduor attended a meeting at a hotel in Rongo town after they were invited by Michael Oyamo, who at the time served as Obado's personal assistant. The meeting was expected to address concerns that Sharon had reportedly raised.
After leaving the hotel, Sharon and Oduor were allegedly lured into a waiting vehicle a short distance away. According to court proceedings, several men then abducted them.
During the journey, Oduor managed to escape by jumping from the moving vehicle near Nyangweso Market along the Homa Bay-Kisumu road.
Despite sustaining injuries, he alerted police and reported the abduction, triggering an intensive search for Sharon.
The following day, September 4, 2018, Sharon's body was discovered in a thicket near Kodera Forest in Uriri, Homa Bay County. The discovery sent shockwaves across the country, with many Kenyans expressing grief and anger over the killing of the young university student and her unborn child.
A post-mortem examination conducted by government pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor painted a grim picture of the brutality Sharon endured before her death.
The autopsy concluded that she had suffered severe physical injuries and had been subjected to torture and sexual violence.
The examination further revealed multiple stab wounds, widely reported as between seven and eight, on her neck, back and abdomen. The unborn male foetus also sustained a fatal stab wound to the abdomen, according to the pathologist's findings.
The horrifying details intensified public outrage, with women's rights groups, civil society organisations and political leaders demanding swift investigations and justice for Sharon and her unborn child.
Investigators subsequently arrested several suspects, with prosecutors charging former Migori Governor Okoth Obado, his former personal assistant Michael Oyamo and former county aide Caspal Obiero with two counts of murder relating to Sharon and her unborn son.
Over the years, the case has gone through numerous hearings, with dozens of witnesses testifying before the High Court.
The proceedings attracted intense public interest, not only because of the high-profile individuals involved but also because the case highlighted broader issues surrounding gender-based violence, political influence and accountability.
Thursday's judgement is expected to close a significant chapter in a case that has remained etched in Kenya's public memory since 2018, when the life of a young university student with hopes, ambitions and a child on the way was violently brought to an end.
