Obado tells how wife and children learnt of secret affair with Sharon

Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado and Senior Counsel Kioko Kilukumi during defense hearing at Milimani courts ,Nairobi on 23rd April 2025. [David Gichuru,Standard] Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado has admitted to having an extramarital affair with the late university student Sharon Otieno, but denied any role in her 2018 murder. Testifying at the Milimani High Court yesterday, Obado told Justice Cecilia Githua that he impregnated Sharon but had no intention of marrying her. "The relationship between Sharon and me was an open secret, and staff within the Migori County Government were aware of the affair," he said. Obado claimed that his wife, Hellen Adhiambo, learned about the affair in May, 2018, during a governors' devolution conference in Kisumu. On the night of May 12, she called to ask whether he was at the Acacia Hotel or had instead booked Sharon into another hotel. Though he denied staying at the same hotel as Sharon, Obado said he paid for her accommodation. His wife, he added, had received anonymous calls revealing the affair. "I had not yet disclosed to my wife that there was another lady in my life," he said. "When she brought it up, I was surprised she knew. I didn't accept that I knew Sharon." Eventually, he confessed and apologised. "I decided to open up that I truly had an affair with Sharon, and I offered my apology. I will not state the exact words I used." Obado said his wife mocked him over the affair. "She told me to bring Sharon into our home and let her stay with us," he said. He insisted the relationship had ended and accepted responsibility for Sharon's pregnancy. "By that time, it was no longer a secret. Social media was abuzz with the relationship, and it eventually reached my Director of Communication and media team." When approached by his Communications Director, Nicholas Anyuor, Obado said: "I told him it was a private affair and not a county issue, so the media team didn't need to intervene." "I wasn't too worried about it affecting my work since I was serving my final term as governor. My biggest concern was resolving things with my wife, Hellen Adhiambo." In June 2018, while abroad for their child's graduation, Obado and his wife agreed that their son Dan should inform his siblings. "Then I introduced the topic about Sharon being pregnant. He responded that he already knew about it." Obado claimed Dan had been in touch with Sharon. "Dan said they knew each other through social media, and Sharon told Dan that she could be her mother, and that she was carrying his brother, and she even sent her baby bump photos." He added that Dan once gave Sharon a lift to Nairobi for a medical check-up. Obado also told the court that Sharon had demanded houses in Kisumu and Nairobi and threatened to expose the affair if he did not comply. He planned instead to build her a Sh3 million home in Homa Bay. He said the demands were relayed by former MCA Lawrence Mula and a journalist, identified in court as XYZ, during a meeting at his Rapogi home. "I called XYZ and gave him an appointment at my rural home," Obado said. "I wasn't worried at all. Besides XYZ, other media persons knew more about the issue, and XYZ's information would not have had enough detail." Obado said Sharon had also shared details of the affair with other journalists. "In my heart, I saw Mula as a mature guy, and we agreed to handle Sharon's welfare through him," he said. After the meeting, he gave them Sh30,000 - Sh10,000 for a taxi and Sh20,000 to be shared. He clarified that his assistant, Michael Oyamo, who is also an accused in the case, was not present. "I did not introduce XYZ to Michael Oyamo. When the two came, Oyamo wasn't there, so XYZ's account is false." He said his wife was present during the meeting and even lent him Sh30,000 when he asked for Sh50,000. A follow-up meeting with Mula at Heron Court Hotel in Nairobi also focused on Sharon's housing demands. "I told Mula it would be better for her to have a house in Homa Bay. I proposed buying land and building a three-bedroom house worth Sh3 million." Obado, however, denied having a hand in Sharon's murder. "I did not kill Sharon Otieno. I did not conspire to kill Sharon." The Rongo University student was abducted and later found dead in Kodera Forest, Homa Bay County, on September 3, 2018. She had suffered eight stab wounds and lost her unborn baby. At the time, she was seven months pregnant. Obado also gave a timeline of his movements to prove he was not near the crime scene. "On September 1, 2018, which was a Saturday, I was in church the whole day because we had a function near my home," he said. "On September 2, a Sunday, I spent the morning receiving visitors, and by noon, I left for Nairobi with my driver, bodyguard, wife, and one of my youngest daughters." He said they arrived in Nairobi around 9 pm and stayed at his Lavington home. "On September 3, I left the house at around 10 am and went to meet my friends, including lawyer Evans Ondieki, at Lavington Mall. We stayed together until around 3 pm, when we went for a late lunch." Later, he visited Ida Odinga, wife of ODM leader Raila Odinga. "I had spoken to Mama Ida earlier; we were to meet in Bondo, but when I called her after church on Saturday, she said she was returning to Nairobi. So, I called her again after lunch, and she said she had just gotten home, so I went to see her at her Karen residence." Obado claimed he learned of Sharon's disappearance the next morning. "When I switched my phone on that morning, I found several missed calls from my Director of Communication, Nicholas Anyuor. He told me that a radio station was announcing that my assistant and Sharon had been abducted." He said he contacted Migori County Police Commander Joseph Nthenge and County Secretary Christopher Rusana. "Mr Rusana later informed me that my PA had been located at a police station after being arrested over the matter." Obado claimed that he had also communicated with Sharon through her mother's phone. "Her mother knew about our relationship. I feel very sad that Sharon had to die. She did not deserve that. I feel sorry for her parents, her children, and her relatives." The trial continues.

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