Obado arrested, to be charged with murder

Migori Governor Okoth Obado addresses the press on his alleged involvement in the murder of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno, September 12, 2018. PHOTO | STELLA CHERONO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The governor was whisked away from the DCI headquarters at around 3.45pm and taken to Gigiri Police station in a convoy of four vehicles.
  • His lawyer Cliff Ombeta confirmed the charges yesterday saying the governor would spend the weekend in police custody.
  • The lawyer indicated the governor's wife Hellen was also A person of interest after suspects named her close associates in the horrendous scheme.

Migori Governor Okoth Obado will be charged on Monday with the murder of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno.

His lawyer Cliff Ombeta confirmed the charges yesterday saying the governor would spend the weekend in police custody.

DNA REPORT

Governor Obado’s arrest yesterday was the culmination of investigations by detectives, who earlier indicated he was a person of interest after a DNA test report confirmed he was the father of Ms Otieno’s foetus.

The baby died after the mother was stabbed in the abdomen.

Sources said the governor was arrested early morning in Nairobi, but Mr Ombeta disputed this claim saying his client presented himself to detectives at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations on Kiambu Road, Nairobi County, where he was grilled for hours.

Mr Obado last week recorded a statement in Kisumu County.

“We were asked on Thursday to come and see the investigator and we were here yesterday at 10am. They asked for a further statement which we gave but before they could consider it and confirm the details, they arrested him,” Mr Ombeta told journalists.

WHISKED AWAY

The governor was whisked away from the DCI headquarters at around 3.45pm and taken to Gigiri Police station in a convoy of four vehicles.

Sources had earlier indicated they were closing in on the main suspect who planned, financed and oversaw Ms Otieno’s gruesome murder.

Yesterday, Mr Ombeta vowed to fight in court, saying DNA results link Governor Obado to the unborn baby but do not directly implicate him in the murder.

He accused the DCI and the Director of Public Prosecution of playing to the gallery.

“Something has to give. The DCI and DPP should be ashamed because they know they have nothing and only want to push a process forward," he said.

"It has to be murder that he will be charged with. Nothing else. It was the only charge when the governor was answering questions. It was in relation to the murder of Sharon."

The lawyer indicated that the governor's wife, Hellen, was also a person of interest as suspects named her close associates in the horrendous scheme.

She, however, did not accompany her husband to the DCI yesterday.

MORE EVIDENCE

On Wednesday, police postponed Hellen's scheduled interrogation at the DCI headquarters as investigators gathered more evidence from suspects already in custody.

“The wife might appear next week in case they want to question her. If they have decided we shall go to court, we will defend the case. A DNA test cannot be the cause of murder. It could not be because the governor was willing to take care of the baby and the lady,” Mr Ombeta said.

Governor Obado joins five other suspects including his personal assistant Michael Oyamo, bodyguard Elvis Omondi and a clerk in the county Caspal Obiero. Also in custody is former Kanyadoto Member of County Assembly Lawrence Mula.

A court has allowed police to detain Mr Jack Gombe for two weeks for questioning. He is the driver of a Toyota Fielder they believe was used in the abduction of Ms Otieno and journalist Barrack Oduor