The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has urged the Milimani Law Court to find Zacharia Okoth Obado, former Migori Governor and his two co-accused guilty of the 2018 murder of university student Sharon Beryl Otieno, arguing that the prosecution has established a strong and consistent case.

In submissions presented in court, Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Gikui Gichuhi said that the evidence demonstrated a coordinated plot and joint criminal activities set to eliminate Sharon, in order to avoid political fallout, reputational damage, and embarrassment.

“The evidence paints a coherent picture of the accused acting in concert, with a shared intention to eliminate Sharon Otieno and silence witness (XYZ),” Gichuhi told the court.

The prosecution outlined how Michael Juma Oyamo, Obado’s former personal assistant, and former Migori County clerk, Caspal Ojwang Bier allegedly played significant roles in the scheme.

The two were present at Graca Hotel on the evening of September 3, 2018, when the late Sharon and a witness were abducted. The vehicle used bore the registration number KCL 418K. It is registered to Obiero’s wife and was driven by a close associate.

Arguing that the materials formed a complete and compelling narrative, Gichuhi detailed extensive evidence, including witness testimony, cybercrime reports, forensic findings, and data analysis from the phone.

“From the start, we committed to showing the court that the evidence, like pieces of a puzzle, form a complete picture of the events that led to Sharon’s tragic death,” she said.

However, Obado, through his defence led by Senior Counsel Kioko Kilukumi, denied any involvement, urging the court to acquit him for lack of direct evidence.

“I did not kill Sharon,” his lawyers submitted, maintaining that the case relied on suspicion rather than proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Obado’s defence maintained that although he admitted to an intimate relationship with Sharon and acknowledged paternity of her unborn child, the affair was neither a secret nor a motive for murder. They also blamed investigators for allegedly failing to pursue alternative leads.

Sharon’s lifeless body was found near River Owade in Homa Bay County, with a postmortem revealing she died from severe haemorrhage which was caused by penetrating injuries and manual strangulation. She was about 28 weeks pregnant.

The court is scheduled to reconvene on March 18, 2026, to announce the judgement date.