In a courtroom revelation that has stunned many, former Migori Governor Okoth Obado testified on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, about his relationship with Sharon Otieno, the university student who was tragically murdered in 2018.
Despite facing charges in her murder, Obado insisted that he had no involvement in her death, but did acknowledge their affair, one he claimed was known by both their families and his staff.
“I did not kill Sharon Otieno. The killing had absolutely nothing to do with me,” Obado said firmly from the witness stand.
However, his testimony revealed a different side to their relationship — one in which he treated Sharon with what he described as the care of someone like a girl baby.
In urban Kenyan slang, a ‘girl baby’ often refers to a female, typically young and attractive, and can be used as a term of endearment, admiration, or even playfully in a flirtatious manner.
Here are five key ways Obado claimed to have treated Sharon like a girl baby during their affair:
1. Financial support
Obado testified that he had agreed to spend Ksh3.5 million to buy land and build a home for Sharon in Homa Bay, despite not intending to marry her.
When cross-examined about whether this amount was excessive for a ‘baby mama’ to be, he defended the decision, noting that he was comfortable with the financial commitment because he could afford it.
“My lady, I was comfortable with that because I could afford it,” Obado told the trial judge, Justice Cecilia Githua, defending his decision to spend so much on her, despite not confirming whether the child she was carrying was his.
2. Sharon’s housing needs
During his submission in court, Obado noted that Sharon insisted on a home in either Nairobi or Kisumu, but he proposed instead to build her a house in rural Homa Bay.
“Sharon’s proposal for housing in Nairobi or in Kisumu were discussed and I discouraged them,” Obado told the court.
However, Sharon wasn’t satisfied with the idea, insisting on a house in a more urban area.
Despite the disagreement, Obado said he wanted to build her a 3-bedroomed house in Homa Bay, showing his willingness to provide for her in the way he thought best.
Obado testified that Sharon’s requests were often conveyed to him by the late Member of County Assembly Lawrence Mula, who acted as a go-between.
3. Sharon’s pregnancy
During his testimony in the ongoing murder trial, Obado acknowledged his affair with the late Sharon and confirmed his responsibility for her pregnancy.
The former Migori governor stated that he had accepted Sharon’s pregnancy and was prepared to support her financially.
DNA had earlier confirmed that Obado was the biological father of Sharon’s unborn child, who died alongside her when she was killed.
Despite their complicated relationship, Obado’s acknowledgement that he was responsible for Sharon’s pregnancy showed a sense of duty in ensuring she was supported.
4. Openly acknowledging their affair
Obado didn’t hide the affair from his staff or even his wife.
In fact, he revealed that his wife, Hellen Adhiambo, had caught wind of the relationship and had tried to confront him during the 2018 Devolution Conference in Kisumu.
Obado said that on the night of May 12, 2018, at around 11 pm, his wife called asking whether he was at the Acacia Hotel, the venue of the conference or at another hotel.
He said the wife knew he had booked Sharon at another hotel within the city. When the wife confronted him with the matter, he at first denied.
Despite initially denying the affair, Obado later confessed to his wife and apologised.
“I decided to open up that I truly had an affair with Sharon, and I offered my apology,” he shared in court.
The fact that Obado tagged along with Sharon to the Devolution Conference in Kisumu demonstrates how he used to cherish her company.
The act of confessing a secret relationship to his wife, despite the fallout, also suggests he was no longer hiding the depth of his connection to Sharon.
5. Sadness over Sharon’s death
Obado told the court he was generally sad about Sharon’s death, emphasising that she did not deserve to die and that the loss had affected not only him but his family, friends, and supporters.
“I feel sad for the children she left behind and sad for the parents. I also feel sad that it has tainted my name,” he said.
His words conveyed a sense of loss, guilt, and sorrow — not only for how things ended but for the void left in the wake of Sharon’s murder.
While these admissions shed light on how Obado treated Sharon during their affair, they also raise more questions about the nature of their relationship and the tragic circumstances surrounding her death.
Obado continues to deny any involvement in her murder, but his testimony adds a new layer to the ongoing trial.
As the court case continues, the public remains focused on the stark contrast between Obado’s financial and emotional support for Sharon and the shocking violence that ultimately claimed her life.
Martin Oduor
The alchemist of literary works – a master wordsmith with a proven record of transforming the raw materials of language into a rich tapestry of emotion, thought, and imagination.
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