Court adjourns Obado’s final submission in Sharon Otieno murder trial
A Nairobi High Court has adjourned the highlighting of submissions by three accused persons in the murder trial of the late Sharon Otieno that was scheduled for today in open court in Milimani.
The three, former Migori County governor Zacharia Okoth Obado, Michael Juma Oyamo and Casper Ojwang Obiero, were supposed to present their final submissions before Lady Justice Cecilia Githua.
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However, appearing before Judge Githua on Friday, February 20, 2026, lawyer Ogada Meso, representing the second accused person, Michael Oyamo, who is the former Obado’s personal assistant, could not come to court because he had fallen ill.
“My lady, my client Mr Oyamo is unwell and currently admitted to hospital and was therefore unable to attend the court after the doctors recommended he be admitted upon checking in at the Rapogi Community Centre Hospital,” lawyer Meso told the court.
“My lady, however, there is still no proof of medical record since he is still admitted, and the court should note that he (Oyamo) had not wished to be the reason why today’s sessions were to be delayed,” lawyer Meso added.
Lawyer Meso urged the court to proceed with the highlighting of submissions in his presence since the first and the third accused were in court.
However, the prosecution objected to the proposal of the matter proceeding in the absence of the second accused, noting that constitutionally the full presence of all accused persons should be in court for trial.
The DPP, through Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Gikui Gichui, told the court that the absence of the second accused makes it hard and not possible for the continuation of the highlighting of submissions.
The prosecution also urged the court to order the defence to provide the medical documentation for Oyamo’s failure, for which the court should issue a warrant of arrest against Oyamo.
Meanwhile, lawyer Kioko Kilukumi told the court that they can forgo the highlighting of submissions in open court and let the court rely on the written submissions filed for judgement.
Judge Githua noted that the court have confirmed their willingness to forego highlighting of their written submissions, and they have also confirmed that they are comfortable relying on their written submissions.
She ruled that the will proceed for judgement and a mention date be set for March 18, 2026, to fix the judgement date.
“I direct that the matter will proceed for judgement; the matter will be mentioned on March 18, 2026, to set a judgement date, and all the accused persons, including the second (Oyamo), should appear in court,” Judge Githua ruled.
