Former Migori Governor Zachary Okoth Obado is set to learn his fate on September 16, 2026, when the High Court sentences him and his two co-convicts over the 2018 murder of university student Sharon Otieno.
The sentencing date was set on Tuesday, August 18 after the High Court directed that Obado, his former personal assistant and former Migori County clerk appear for sentencing following their conviction.
On July 23, Lady Justice Cecilia Githua found the three guilty, ruling that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The court scheduled the sentencing after receiving a victim impact report from a probation officer outlining the impact of Sharon's murder on her family.
Both the prosecution and defence teams have also been ordered to file and serve their submissions before the sentencing hearing.
The court will consider the victim impact report, submissions from both sides and other relevant factors in determining the appropriate punishment.
Meanwhile, Sharon's family is seeking compensation for the financial strain caused by her murder and the nearly eight-year legal battle.
The family told the court on Tuesday that it had spent approximately Ksh4.7 million on the case, forcing relatives to sell land and a cow to meet the expenses.
In her July ruling, Justice Githua said the prosecution had established a complete chain of circumstantial evidence connecting the three accused persons to Sharon's murder.
“I am satisfied that the circumstances presented in this case, taken cumulatively, form a chain so complete that there is no escape from the conclusion that the accused persons, jointly with others not before the court, committed the offence,” Justice Githua ruled.
The prosecution called 42 witnesses during the trial and relied largely on circumstantial evidence to demonstrate that Obado and his two co-accused had jointly planned and facilitated Sharon's killing.
Sharon's body was discovered dumped in a thicket in Uriri Constituency in September 2018, days after she disappeared.
A postmortem examination conducted by Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor established that she died from strangulation and severe bleeding caused by multiple stab wounds.
Obado and his two co-convicts will remain in custody pending the September 16 sentencing hearing, when the High Court will determine the punishment following their conviction.
