Former Migori Governor Zacharia Obado is seeking a non-custodial sentence while Sharon Otieno’s parents want an appropriate punishment and compensation for the loss of their daughter.
A pre-sentence report filed at the Milimani High Court recommends that the 64-year-old former governor be considered for a non-custodial sentence over Sharon murder, citing his age, health status, lack of previous criminal convictions, eight years of compliance with bond terms and extensive family and community support.
The report, prepared by the Probation and Aftercare Service and dated August 17, 2026, was authored by Assistant Director of Probation Benard Musitia after interviews with Obado at Kamiti Maximum Prison, his spouse, children, siblings, local administration officials and community members in Migori County.
Obado was convicted on July 23, 2026, alongside his former personal assistant Michael Juma Oyamo and former Migori official Caspal Ajwang Obiero for the murder of Rongo University student Sharon Belyne Otieno.
Justice Cecilia Githua found that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the three acted in concert in Sharon’s killing.
Sharon, 26, was seven months pregnant and pursuing a Diploma in Medical Records at Rongo University when she was killed between September 3 and 4, 2018, in Owade area, Rachuonyo Sub-County, Homa Bay County.
The probation report says Obado continues to deny responsibility for the murder.
He admitted having an intimate relationship with Sharon between November 2017 and March 2018 but claimed he ended it over what he described as “incessant demands” and “dishonesty”.
Obado told probation officers that he had offered to support Sharon’s pregnancy pending a DNA test and maintained that he was in Nairobi when she was killed .
He denied prior knowledge of the murder but acknowledged entrusting Oyamo with “handling issues” relating to Sharon.
The report states that Obado does not accept responsibility for the offence and attributes his conviction to political woes and machinations to soil his character.
His family and community members, however, urged the court to consider leniency.
Obado’s siblings led by family spokesperson Okoth Daudi have described him as a unifying figure who financed relatives’ education and served as an economic pillar for the family.
Community members, including Migori County Commissioner Musili Mutua and area Chief Silvanus Awiti, reportedly raised no objection to a non-custodial sentence, citing his philanthropic activities, including sponsoring students, drilling boreholes and supporting church construction.
The plea for leniency comes against the backdrop of a separate victim impact report detailing the devastating consequences of Sharon’s murder on her family.
The report, compiled by Principal Probation Officer Salome Muthoni and dated August 17, states that Sharon’s parents, Douglas Zacharia Otieno and Melida Auma, sold their one-acre parcel of land and a cow to meet expenses arising from the eight-year trial.
The family estimates that attending court proceedings over the last seven to eight years cost about Sh1.2 million in transport, accommodation and food.
The family also incurred about Sh3.5 million in burial and funeral expenses.
The report describes the family as being of low socio-economic means, with Sharon’s father engaged in peasant farming and her mother, a former ECDE teacher, having stopped working after her daughter’s death.
Sharon left behind three children, now aged 12, 11 and nine, who are being raised by their maternal grandmother.
The report paints a family still gripped by fear, eight years on.
“The family still lives in fear since the other persons of interest in the heinous act were unknown and still at large,” the report states, adding that uncertainty over what the unidentified accomplices were planning had left the family with a fear of the unknown and a developed form of phobia.
They also told the probation officer they remain afraid of Obado’s aides Oyamo and Obiero specifically, whom they regard as bearing the greatest burden that led to the death of their beloved one, and are uncertain what will follow once sentence is passed.
The report also says the family continues to experience severe psychological trauma, with members having lost weight, do not get enough sleep and suffering moods, reactions, psychological trauma and flashbacks.
Sharon’s father has also taken into alcoholism in the name of assisting him forget what happened and frequently holds her photo for memories, according to the report.
The report also reveals attempts of reconciliation efforts between Sharon’s family and Obado’s relatives.
At a meeting on August 10, the families agreed that Obado had made some promises to the deceased and they were still committed to have them fulfilled.
The report says there was no animosity and hostility during the meetings and that Sharon’s family have mourned enough and are ready to forgive those who wronged them.
The victim impact report presented to Justice Githua yesterday August 18, 2026 recommends that the court consider the totality of the findings in this report while dispensing justice at sentencing.
Judge further directed the matter be mentioned September 16,2026 for mitigation, the three will remain in custody pending sentencing.
