Sharon Otieno Cover-up— Vehicle Used in Murder Was Tampered With

The lead investigator in the murder trial of former Migori Governor Okoth Obado on Friday told a Nairobi court that the vehicle used in the abduction and death of Sharon Otieno was tampered with to conceal it’s movements.

Nicholas Ole Sena said the vehicle belonged to one Olivia Odhiambo, who is married to the third accused person in the case, Caspal Obiero.

Ole Sena explained to the court that the car tracker was working on September 2, 2018 but on September 3 when Sharon was murdered, it was tampered with. The tracker started operating again from September 4.

“We concluded that the car tracker had been tampered with to conceal the movement of the vehicle on that particular day,” he said.

The significance of the vehicle, according to the witness, was that it was used to abduct Sharon and the journalist who managed to escape on the fateful day.

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Obado, his personal assistant Michael Oyamo and Obiero are on trial over Sharon’s death and that of her unborn baby that took place on September 3, 2018 in Homa Bay county.

Ole Sena was the last prosecution witness. He told the court that the case was not politically motivated but a thorough probe was done.

He said on the night Sharon was murdered Obiero helped Oyamo acquire falsified medical documents at Kisii Referral Hospital in an attempt to conceal the murder.

He confirmed to the court that Oyamo had not been injured as he pretended.

During the hearing, a clinical officer confessed he filled in medical documents showing Oyamo displayed features of strangulation without examining him.

The details of Oyamo were filled in by Cliff Momanyi hours after the abduction and death of Sharon in Owade area, Homa Bay county.

The witness said when he filled the medical records, Oyamo was not physically present.

One of the forms was to indicate that Oyamo needed referral from Kisii to Kisumu hospital.

Momanyi’s clinical notes further indicated that Oyamo was assaulted by unknown persons and was brought to hospital while unconscious.

But all these were lies, as confirmed by the investigating officer on Friday.

With Ole Sena’s evidence in place, the prosecution closed its case.

Obado through senior counsel Kioko Kilukumi said they will be seeking his acquittal as there is no case against his client based on the evidence adduced in court by the prosecution.

What’s remaining is for parties to file their submissions in the case before court can make a determination on whether it will place the accused persons on their defence.

The judge said a date will be communicated to parties virtually on when they can file their submissions.

—The Star