Obado’s PA says Sharon’s welfare money was shared among 3 people
Fresh details have emerged on how the money provided by former Migori Governor Okoth Obado for the welfare of his then-lover, the late Sharon Otieno, was shared among her, the late Lawrence Mula, and a journalist identified as XYZ.
In gripping evidence, before Justice Cecilia Githua at the Milimani High Court, the second accused, Michael Juma Oyamo, who was the personal assistant to the county boss, revealed that Sharon opened up to him that the money was being shared among the three of them.
He told the court that the deceased explained her frustrations in the matter, noting that Mula and XYZ were not interested in the best well-being of her and her baby.
“Sharon told me that when the governor gave money for her welfare, they would share it among the three of them, and she felt the two were benefiting from her welfare,” Oyamo told the court.
Oyamo told the court that the late Sharon also told him that she was pushing to dismiss the two gentlemen and have the welfare money sent directly to her instead of going through Mula.
However, he said that he discouraged her proposal, advising her that her suggestion could only be possible if it came from the governor himself.
He said that Sharon revealed that letting XYZ go from the plan was not easy since she had shared so much information with him, stating that letting him go would only be possible if she got it all back.
According to Oyamo, Sharon felt that keeping off Mula was easier than XYZ, she then proceeded to call Mula and told him to keep off from their matter with Obado.
On September 3, 2018, Oyamo reached an agreement with Sharon that they would meet with XYZ to find a solution to the welfare money.
Sharon insisted that they meet at the Gracia Hotel in Rongo town, along the Rongo-Homabay road, citing that she was comfortable there since the hotel was owned by a relative.
“When I got to the Gracia hotel, I found Sharon and XYZ with a wine bottle and two glasses of wine, but only Sharon was taking the drink when I joined them and reprimanded XYZ for letting a pregnant woman take alcohol,” Oyamo told the court.
Oyamo said that he proceeded to enquire from Sharon on how she wanted them to settle the issue of her welfare with XYZ because initially, he had abandoned what he was doing in his life to concentrate on her welfare.
Sharon then told the journalist that she wants him out of the matter, a proposal that did not sit well with XYZ.
At that point, Oyamo excused himself to talk to Sharon away from XYZ to find a solution, and the deceased suggested that they get some money to buy him off with clear instructions.
Before going back to where XYZ was, Sharon asked the governor’s aide what he had, and in response, he said he came with Ksh100,000 for that day.
Sharon then told him to divide the amount in two, urging him not to give the full amount in the presence of XYZ, to which he agreed, and he was to give her the balance in his absence.
After they returned to the table, XYZ was informed that after the payment, he was to hand over all the information and delete everything he got from Sharon about their issue with the county boss, and he should not make any call on the same or publish their story.
XYZ agreed with their proposal of buying him off, and Oyamo told them to agree on the possible price for him to inform the governor and give them a response.
Oyamo left the two briefly and went to the washroom to separate the Ksh100,000 he had, as they had agreed with Sharon, and joined them.
“I told them I was about to leave and wanted to pay for the drink they were taking; then I handed over the Ksh50,000 and told them that Ksh10,000 was for their taxi and the Ksh40,000 was for her welfare,” Oyamo told the court.
The PA then paid the wine bill, which was Ksh750, with Ksh1,000, and Sharon told the waiter to keep the change, and they left.
