The High Court has dismissed former Migori Governor Okoth Obado’s claim that he had accepted Sharon Otieno’s pregnancy, ruling that the evidence presented during the trial contradicted his account.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, July 23, Justice Cecilia Githua said the court was not convinced by Obado’s assertion that he had accepted the pregnancy and continued supporting Sharon after their romantic relationship ended.
According to the judge, a careful review of the evidence presented by both the prosecution and the defence showed that Obado’s claim was neither genuine nor supported by the facts before the court.
Justice Githua noted that testimony from prosecution witnesses, including Sharon’s mother, indicated that Obado had allegedly pressured Sharon to terminate the pregnancy. The court heard that he allegedly gave her Sh30,000 to facilitate the abortion.
However, Sharon declined the request after consulting her mother and decided to keep the pregnancy.
The judge found that the pregnancy became a central issue in the events that followed, ultimately leading to Sharon’s unlawful death.
“The totality of the evidence adduced in this case shows that this particular pregnancy formed the basis of subsequent events, which culminated in the unlawful death of the deceased,” Justice Githua stated in her judgment.
During his defence, Obado denied any role in Sharon’s murder. He told the court that he neither killed her nor conspired with anyone to cause her death.
Obado maintained that the killing was carried out without his knowledge or involvement. He also admitted that he had been in a romantic relationship with Sharon and acknowledged that he was the father of her unborn child.
The former governor described the affair as an “open secret,” saying it was known by his family, Sharon’s family, and some officials within the Migori County Government.
Although he admitted responsibility for the pregnancy, Obado told the court he had no intention of marrying Sharon. He further claimed that despite ending their relationship, he continued providing financial support for her and the unborn child.
Justice Githua acknowledged that there was evidence showing Obado continued offering financial assistance after the relationship ended. However, she ruled that the alleged attempts to persuade Sharon to terminate the pregnancy undermined his argument that he had fully accepted it.
The court also noted that Obado said he learned about the pregnancy in March 2018, around the same period he decided to end the relationship. The judge found that his explanation was inconsistent with the prosecution’s evidence regarding his conduct after discovering the pregnancy.
The ruling forms part of the court’s detailed analysis of the evidence presented throughout the high-profile murder trial, with the judge concluding that Obado’s version of events did not align with the weight of the testimony and material presented before the court.