.jpg)
Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado had no reason to kill the late Sharon Otieno as he had accepted their child and was ready to support her financially, a witness has told a Nairobi court.
Lawrence Mula, a former MCA in Homa Bay county, told Justice Cecilia Githua that he could not see why Obado wanted Sharon dead, yet they had reached an amicable settlement to the demands she had made.
Sharon had demanded a Sh25 million house in Nairobi or Kisumu, a good car equal to that of a governor’s wife and Sh5 million for upkeep.
She was desirous of a glamorous lifestyle, especially after getting pregnant by Obado.
She could not go by road when attending her clinic rounds at Nairobi Hospital but always sought to go by plane.
While being cross-examined by senior counsel Kioko Kilukumi and Rodgers Sagana, Mula told the court that in spite of it all, Obado took responsibility for his actions.
He was, however, not sure if the child was his due to the fact that Sharon was also friends with his son.
But Mula told the court that Sharon swore to not sleeping with anyone else and she was ready to do a DNA test.
A DNA test was done much earlier when the trial was commencing, and it proved it was Obado’s child.
“I could not see why the governor would want her dead because they had already settled on how she and the unborn child would be taken care of,” Mula said.
The former MCA said Obado had shared the details of Sharon carrying his unborn child with his wife.
The wife knew Sharon was expectant. Her children, too. It was not a secret.
He said the day he went to Obado’s home with journalist Barrack Oduor, Obado’s wife was present.
The two had gone to his house to find a solution to Sharon’s issues at the request of the governor.
Sharon had allegedly threatened to go public if that is what would make the former county chief assist her.
As the meeting came to a conclusion, Obado asked his wife for Sh100,000 but she said she only had Sh30,000. That money was given to Oduor.
What followed after this was a series of meetings between Obado, his personal assistant Michael Oyamo and the MCA, all with a view to settling Sharon’s Issue.
The meetings would take place in Nairobi and the governor would cater for Mula’s transport and accommodation.
Mula assumed the role of an emissary. Obado would find out from Mula what it is that Sharon needed urgently.
He came up with a suggestion that he buys a plot for Sharon where they can build her a good home to stay in.
He estimated the cost to be around Sh4 million.
Obado requested Mula to sell the idea to Sharon, which he did.
Sharon welcomed the idea and insisted the house should be fully furnished. She was to receive the money at the end of August 2018.
The witness also said he could not suspect that Oyamo would kill Sharon, going by how he had offered himself to help her.
But at some point, Sharon told Mula to stop meddling in the matter.
This happened before the Sh3 million to Sh4 million was wired to her.
Asked by lawyer Ogada Meso whether he had received any complaints regarding Oyamo, Mula said:
“In the entire dealings up to the time Sharon disappeared, I never received any complaint form Obado that Oyamo has done things contrary to his duties as a PA.”
Obado, his personal aides Micheal Oyamo and Caspal Obiero are currently in court, facing trial over the murder of Sharon and her unborn baby.
The three and others not before the court are accused of committing the crime on September 3, 2018 at Owade, Homa Bay county.
The hearing continues Thursday. BY THE STAR