Police: Sharon could have been brutally raped before her killing

Rongo University student Sharon Otieno could have been raped before she was brutally murdered, police have said.

An officer involved in the investigation yesterday said that used condoms were found at the scene of the pregnant student's murder.

"We found four used condoms and a pool of blood at the scene," said the officer.

The 26-year-old's body was found in a thicket near Wire Forest, about 50 metres from the Oyugis-Kisumu road, on Monday night, hours after she was kidnapped in Migori County alongside Nation Media Group journalist Barack Oduor.

Police said they were hot on the trail of three people suspected to have been involved in the kidnapping and murder of the student.

Other sources indicated the search for the suspects had spread to Nairobi, where some of the culprits were believed to be hiding.

A team of detectives visited Kayole, where they were informed one or two suspects could be hiding, but no arrests were made.

The vehicle the suspects were said to have used was also missing. The only person police are holding is Michael Oyamo, Migori Governor Okoth Obado's personal assistant.

Detectives said they had established that there had been communication between Mr Oyamo, the deceased and other persons who have not yet been arrested.

The manner in which blood splattered on guava leaves and grass, sources said, suggested there was a struggle as Sharon was being killed.