Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado has told the court that he ended his relationship with Sharon Otieno due to “inconsistencies,” insisting the decision was not influenced by her pregnancy.
Defending himself for the second day, Obado painted a picture of a relationship that began on friendly terms but later faltered due to inconsistency.
“We started as friends, but then came the inconsistencies,” he said. “I told her I wanted to be a responsible person, now that she was carrying my child. I wanted her to be comfortable.”
He stressed that despite ending the relationship, he continued to support Sharon emotionally and financially.
“Even after terminating the relationship, I was still giving her money for her welfare and for the child she was carrying for me. I told her it was okay to carry my baby. I did not end the relationship because of the pregnancy,” Obado said.
Obado also disclosed that he had plans to help Sharon settle independently.
“I had planned to settle her, including looking for land to build her a house — that was just to settle her because she was carrying my child,” he said.
He added that Sharon wanted to move out from her mother’s house and into a rental in Homa Bay, a transition he facilitated.
“She wanted to move to a rental in Homa Bay, and I provided for that,” he testified.
Obado said he was willing to invest in her future by offering financial aid.
“I was comfortable spending the Ksh.3.5 million on her. It was a good proposal,” he said. “Initially, she wanted a house in Nairobi or Kisumu.”
The former governor denied assigning illegal duties to his co-accused; his personal assistant Michael Oyamo and Casper Obiero, a clerk in Migori County.
“Clerical officers have their duties clearly assigned by the Head of Human Resources — I did not interfere. My personal assistant was only tasked with official government duties,” he said.
He further explained that during the Council of Governors meeting in Nairobi in 2018, he was alone as such events do not permit governors to bring staff.
Obado concluded by reaffirming his previous statements recorded in September 2018, saying he has remained consistent and truthful throughout.
The former County boss is a suspect in the murder of Sharon, a university student whose lifeless body was found in a thicket on September 4, 2018. The deceased was expecting a baby, who was also killed as its mother suffered stab wounds on her stomach.
