Obado: My affair with Sharon ended due to her 'inconsistencies'

Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado yesterday told the High Court that he ended his romantic relationship with ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/ktn/ktn-newsdesk/video/2000228582/okoth-obado-denies-murder-claims-against-sharon-otieno">slain Rongo University student Sharon Otieno< due to “inconsistencies”, refuting claims that her pregnancy prompted the breakup.

On his second day of his testimony before Justice Cecilia Githua, Obado described a ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001517228/okoth-obado-my-relationship-with-sharon-otieno-was-an-open-secret">relationship that began amicably but grew strained<.

“I ended the relationship with Sharon because of inconveniences that had emerged, not because she was pregnant,” he said during re-examination by his lawyer, Roger Sagana.

Obado claimed the breakup occurred around February or March 2018, before the affair became public knowledge.

“People only learned about it long after it ended. It’s not true that I ended it due to public exposure,” he told the court. 

“When Sharon informed me of her pregnancy, I accepted it.”

The former governor claimed that his wife, Hellen Adhiambo, discovered the affair in May, 2018 during a devolution conference at the Acacia Hotel in Kisumu. Multiple sources had informed Adhiambo that Obado and Sharon were in Kisumu together.

“On May 12, 2018, around 11pm, my wife called and asked if I was at the Acacia Hotel or another hotel where Sharon was allegedly staying,” Obado testified.

He initially denied knowing Sharon but admitted to paying for her accommodation elsewhere in Kisumu. “My wife said she planned to catch me with her at the hotel,” he added.

Eventually, ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/article/2001517314/obado-tells-court-he-supported-sharon-otieno-after-breakup">Obado confessed to the affair<. “I admitted I had an affair with Sharon and apologized. I won’t repeat the exact words,” he said. Adhiambo responded mockingly, suggesting he brought Sharon to live with them.

Obado assured her the relationship had ended but acknowledged responsibility for Sharon’s pregnancy.

Obado maintained that he continued supporting Sharon financially after the breakup, including during her pregnancy, until her death in September 2018.

“I did not kill her. I was still supporting her,” he said, presenting text messages to counter the prosecution’s claim that he orchestrated her murder due to discomfort over her pregnancy.

One message, dated August 17, 2018, showed Sharon thanking him for sending Sh100,000 to pay for a house. Obado claimed he sent money regularly, sometimes through intermediaries like his former aide and the late MCA Lawrence Mula.

Sharon, seven months pregnant with Obado’s child, was found dead in a thicket in Homa Bay County in September, 2018, with multiple stab wounds, sparking a high-profile murder trial.

Before the breakup, Obado claimed he had supported Sharon’s business ventures, but post-breakup, his assistance was limited to basic upkeep.

He repeated his claims that he planned to buy land and build a house for her, budgeting around Sh3.5 million, to ensure her and the child’s stability.

He also gave her money to move out of her mother’s house and purchase health insurance.

Obado insisted the affair was not a secret, known to Sharon’s family, his wife, and county government staff. He noted that investigating Officer Nicholas ole Sina confirmed in court that the relationship was widely known and that Obado continued providing financial support after the breakup.

The prosecution alleges Obado masterminded Sharon’s murder to avoid public embarrassment and political fallout from her pregnancy.

But Obado denied these claims, stating he neither killed Sharon nor instructed his personal assistant, Michael Oyamo, the second accused, to do so.

Justice Githua adjourned the case to May 19 when Oyamo and Migori County Clerk Casper Ojwang Obiero will present their defenses.

In February, the court ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case, finding sufficient evidence to put the three on trial for Sharon’s murder.

“After reviewing the evidence, I conclude the prosecution has presented compelling evidence linking the three to the abduction and brutal killing of Sharon,” Justice Githua stated, acquitting them on a second count but ordering them to defend themselves on the murder charge.

Obado’s testimony included details of his financial transactions with Sharon, aiming to demonstrate his ongoing support and refute the prosecution’s narrative.

He described the relationship’s evolution, from a supportive partnership to one marred by challenges that led to its end. By presenting text messages and detailing his financial contributions, Obado sought to portray himself as a responsible figure who accepted the pregnancy and continued to care for Sharon’s welfare, even after their romantic ties dissolved.

The trial has captivated public attention, with the prosecution’s case resting on 42 witnesses who provided evidence linking Obado, Oyamo, and Obiero to Sharon’s abduction and murder.

The defence, however, argues that the prosecution has failed to establish a direct connection between Obado and the crime. Obado’s testimony emphasised his transparency about the affair and his efforts to support Sharon, challenging the prosecution’s motive of political and personal embarrassment.

As the case progresses, the court will hear from the co-accused, whose defenses may further clarify the circumstances surrounding Sharon’s tragic death.

The outcome of this trial will have significant implications, not only for the accused but also for public discourse on accountability and justice in high-profile cases involving prominent figures.