Kenyan Governor, Okoth Obado Chearged with Murder of Pregnant 'Student' Lover

According to Kenyan authorities, Migori Governor Okoth Obado will be charged in court with the murder of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno on Monday.

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

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 Sharon's fetus.

Sharon's baby died after the mother was stabbed multiple times in the abdomen.

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

Mr. Obado last week recorded a statement in Kisumu.

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

Sources had earlier indicated they were closing in on the main suspect who planned, financed and oversaw Sharon's gruesome murder. Yesterday, Mr. Ombeta vowed to fight in the courts, saying DNA results link Governor Obado to the unborn baby but do not directly implicate him in the murder.

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

"Something had to give in. The DCI and DPP should be ashamed because they know they have nothing but just want to push a process forward. It has to be the murder that he will be charged with. Nothing else. It's the only charge and caution there was when the governor was answering questions, it was in relation to the murder of Sharon," he said.

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

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

Last week, the police postponed her scheduled interrogation at the DCI headquarters as investigators gathered more evidence from suspects already in custody.

"The wife might appear here next week in case they want to question her. If they have decided we shall get to court we will defend the case. DNA 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 MCA Lawrence Mula.

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

The issue seems to be raising a lot of dust in Kenya with reports from the governor's camp claiming that while the governor may be responsible for the pregnancy, he is not responsible for the murder of Sharon Otieno.

The family of Sharon who has refused to bury their daughter even though they had carried out a burial ceremony for the 'fetus' have remained defiant and said they will not lay their daughter to rest until those responsible for the murder are brought to book.

This is definitely not the end of this issue, and sadly so.