Obado murder trial: Former aide Oyamo admits meeting Sharon, denies planning her murder

Michael Oyamo, the former aide to ex-Migori governor Okoth Obado testifies in court during the hearing of the Sharon Otieno Murder at Milimani law courts on May 22, 2025/EZEKIEL AMING'A

Michael Oyamo on Thursday admitted he met Sharon Otieno at a hotel in Rongo, Migori County, moments before she was abducted and eventually murdered.

Oyamo, who is former Governor Okoth Obado's personal assistant, however, denied that she lured the then Rongo university student to her death.

He told trial judge Cecilia Githua that had had a busy day on September 3, 2018, as he was preparing for a trip to Rwanda.

Obado, then the governor of Migori, was to be among the county delegation traveling to Rwanda.

Oyamo said most of his time that day involved finalising travel preparations, including per diem payments.

When he was done, he spoke with Sharon on the phone. That was around 5:30pm and they were to meet and discuss an issue that was troubling the then governor's girlfriend.

"Sharon and XYZ wanted us to meet at Rodi Kopany in Homa Bay because it was next to where she resided but I told them it was very far from Migori," Oyamo said.

They then reached a compromise and agreed to meet at in Rongo town, a place that was somehow in the middle of Migori and Rodi Kopany. As he left Migori, Oyamo suggested that they meet at TritHouse Hotel in Rongo.

He then left Migori in a matatu and arrived in Rongo minutes before 7pm. He called again to inform Sharon that he had arrived at the TritHouse hotel. She, however, said she was at Graca hotel, a kilometre away.

Oyamo then flagged down a bodaboda, which took him to Graca hotel where he met Sharon and XYZ.

"During our conversation, Sharon said she preferred the Graca Hotel because it belonged to her relative," Oyamo said.

He said he found Sharon taking wine at the hotel and immediately quarreled with the man for allowing a pregnant woman to take alcohol.

Sharon was pregnant with Obado's child at the time she was killed. Oyamo said his meeting with Sharon that evening was to help her stop XYZ from publishing personal stories that she had shared with him.

"So I called her on the side and asked her what she thought we could do. She suggested we find some payment for XYZ to cater for the efforts he had put in so far," Oyamo said.

When they rejoined the man, Oyamo suggested that the two of them agree on how much he could be paid and that he would give them his reply later.

"That would then allow me to get back to the governor for a way forward," Oyamo said.

After their meeting, Oyamo said he gave Sharon Sh50,000, Sh10,000 was for their transport, and the rest was for her. He later asked for the water and paid up the bill which was Sh750. He gave Sh1,000 note, and Sharon told the waiter, a gentleman, to keep the change.

As they left the hotel building, they headed to the only car which was at the parking bay. It was a black Toyota Wish. Oyamo said XYZ opened the rear left door and entered the vehicle.

"As Sharon entered, I held her hand behind and gave her another Sh50,000, " Oyamo said.

According to Oyamo, the two left in the car towards Homa Bay while he took a boda boda to Rongo town before hiring a taxi that took him back to Migori town.

Oyamo said he did not enter the same vehicle with Sharon and XYZ as they were going in opposite directions. However, XYZ who is a prosecution witness, had earlier told the court that it was Oyamo who had planned and actually lured Sharon to her kidnappers and eventual killers.

XYZ who testified in 2021, said Oyamo even asked them to move from the Graca Hotel to another in the town, from where they all left in a black car that had other occupants. That car took the Homa Bay direction from Rongo.

On the way, Oyamo asked the driver to slow down before alighting and effectively leaving Sharon and XYZ in the hands of abductors, according to XYZ. Oyamo, however, denied ever asking both Sharon and XYZ to move with him to another hotel.

He also denied leaving Rongo in one car with both Sharon and XYZ.

"That was impossible because they were heading to Homa Bay while I was going to Migori which are in opposite directions," Oyamo said. The hearing continues.