The father of murdered Rongo University student Sharon Otieno has told the High Court he has forgiven former Migori Governor Okoth Obado and would not oppose a non-custodial sentence for him, while taking a markedly different position on Obado’s two co-convicts.
Douglas Zachariah Otieno addressed Justice Cecilia Githua directly on Wednesday, September 16, during sentencing proceedings for Obado, Michael Juma Oyamo and Caspal Ojwang Obiero, all convicted of Sharon’s murder on July 23.
He told the court he had remained silent about his daughter’s death for nine years but chose to speak given the significance of the day and the opportunity the court had granted him. His remarks focused mainly on Obado, whom he said had reached out to the family through relatives seeking reconciliation, an effort he said he had not seen matched by either of the two co-convicts.
The prosecution, while acknowledging the family’s position as relevant to sentencing, was firm that it could not be determinative.
“This is an offence against the state… the court is the ultimate decision maker,” the state submitted, urging Justice Githua to weigh the gravity of the offence and the aggravating circumstances set out in the sentencing guidelines. Prosecutors argued the murder was premeditated and carried out through coordinated conduct, with all three convicts acting pursuant to a common design while playing different roles in the killing, a degree of planning they said elevated the culpability of all three.
The state further submitted that it had established that the convicts were public employees, close associates and individuals known to Sharon, and pointed to the absence of any evidence that she had acted in self-defence. On their criminal history, prosecutors indicated the three may be treated as first offenders, but urged the court to weigh the circumstances of the offence in determining the sentence.
The family’s position toward Obado specifically traces back to a reconciliation meeting held in August, led by Obado’s brother, Dominic Peter Akugo, and attended by Sharon’s parents, Douglas Zachariah Otieno and Melinda Auma.
During that meeting, the families discussed promises Obado had made to Sharon before her death, including providing her with land and a house, commitments her family says they hope will still be honoured to help support her three children, now aged 12, 10 and 8.
A pre-sentence probation report noted that a separate meeting was also held with representatives of Oyamo’s family, though it did not result in an amicable reconciliation or substantive engagement, while no reconciliation efforts were initiated at all by the family of the third convict, Obiero.
A victim impact statement filed as part of the probation report laid out the toll the nine-year case has taken on the family. It said they had spent approximately Sh4.7 million on expenses arising from the murder, funeral and prolonged court proceedings, including around Sh1.2 million on travel, accommodation and meals during hearings in Nairobi, and had been forced to sell a one-acre piece of land and a cow to help cover some of those costs.
The report described Sharon’s children, parents and siblings as secondary victims who have continued to experience grief, psychological trauma and economic vulnerability, and noted the family’s complaint that persistent negative exposure on social media and in mainstream media had further affected their dignity and caused ongoing anxiety.
The family also expressed concern for their safety, citing fears of possible retaliation given that some individuals linked to the case remain at large. Principal Probation Officer Salome Muthoni’s report acknowledged that no sentence could restore Sharon’s life or undo the pain her loved ones have suffered, but urged the court to consider interventions that could help stabilise the family and secure her children’s future, noting that commitments made during the reconciliation process could help address some of the family’s immediate needs regardless of the court’s eventual sentence.
For his part, Obado has continued to maintain his innocence, telling probation officers he respects the court’s verdict but disagrees with its finding that he was involved in Sharon’s death, while expressing remorse over her death and affirming his willingness to support her family and pursue reconciliation.
He cited his advancing age, hypertension, persistent left shoulder pain and the prolonged nine-year duration of the trial as grounds for leniency, and noted he has no prior criminal record. A pre-sentence social inquiry report described him as a respected member of his community, referencing his past work as a teacher and church elder, with some Uriri residents reported to have appealed for leniency in recognition of his standing and service to the area.
Sharon, 26, was seven months pregnant when she was killed in September 2018. She was a second-year student at Rongo University pursuing a diploma in Medical Records. The High Court is now reviewing submissions from the prosecution, the defence and Sharon’s family, alongside the probation and victim impact reports, before determining the appropriate sentences for all three convicts.
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