Sharon Otieno, 26 (at the time of death), was born and raised in a rural village in Homa Bay County. She was one of four children in a family where her parents worked as teachers while also engaging in small-scale farming.
She attended local schools before joining Rongo University in 2016. As a non-residential student, Sharon commuted from her home to the university for her studies.
Friends described Sharon as humble, generous and private, and she was also known for her love of fashion. In early 2018, she deferred her studies to prepare for the birth of her second child.
In August 2018, Sharon, who was about seven months pregnant, was abducted and later found dead. The killing sparked nationwide outrage, leading to multiple arrests and a lengthy court process that drew significant public attention.
Years after her death, Sharon Otieno’s case remains one of Kenya’s most widely discussed murder cases.
Timeline of Sharon Otieno’s Murder
September 3, 2018
Sharon Otieno and journalist Barack Oduor attended a meeting in Rongo town after being invited by Michael Oyamo, who was then the personal assistant to Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado.
After leaving a hotel in Rongo, the two were lured into a waiting vehicle a short distance away, where they were allegedly abducted by several men.
During the journey, journalist Barack Oduor managed to jump from the moving vehicle near Nyangweso Market along the Homa Bay–Kisumu road. He escaped and alerted authorities about the abduction.
September 4, 2018
The following day, Sharon Otieno’s body was discovered in Kodera Forest in Uriri, Homa Bay County. She had sustained multiple injuries.
Police launched investigations and arrested Michael Oyamo, linking him to the abduction that preceded Sharon Otieno’s murder.
Autopsy Findings and Nature of Injuries
A post-mortem examination conducted by government pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor concluded that Sharon Otieno had suffered severe injuries before her death.
The findings indicated she had been subjected to torture and sexual violence.
Additionally, the examination found multiple stab wounds, widely reported as between seven and eight, to her neck, back and abdomen. Sharon was approximately seven months pregnant at the time of her death.
The autopsy also established that the unborn male foetus had sustained a stab wound to the abdomen.
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Investigators further reported recovering two used condoms at the crime scene as part of the evidence collected during the investigation.
Police documented the crime scene extensively, taking 213 photographs and recording multiple injuries consistent with the post-mortem findings as part of the murder investigation.
Okoth Obado linked to Sharon Otieno’s case
Three people were charged over the murder of Sharon Otieno and her unborn child, with the case proceeding before the High Court.
Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado was charged with the murders. Prosecutors alleged he had an intimate relationship with Sharon Otieno and played a role in facilitating the events that led to her abduction and killing.
Michael Oyamo, who served as Obado’s personal assistant, was accused of planning and coordinating the events that culminated in Sharon Otieno’s abduction and murder.
Caspal Obiero, another former aide to Obado, was also charged in connection with the killings.
All three accused persons denied the charges and have maintained their innocence throughout the trial.
Also Read: Migori Governor Obado’s Assets Frozen By EACC
Where the Sharon Otieno Case Stands
The three were, however, acquitted on a separate charge relating to the death of Sharon’s unborn child after the court found that the prosecution had not met the legal requirement that a murder victim must have been born alive.
In January 2025, Justice Cecilia Githua ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the three accused, finding that there was sufficient evidence to require them to present their defense on the charge of Sharon Otieno’s murder.
After both the prosecution and defense filed their final written and oral submissions, the High Court initially scheduled judgment for May 29, 2026. The ruling was later postponed.
On Thursday, July 23, 2026, Criminal Division Judge Lady Justice Cecilia Githua is set to deliver judgment, determining whether Okoth Obado, Michael Juma Oyamo and Caspal Obiero are guilty or not guilty of Sharon Otieno’s murder.
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