This archive report was first published on 19 December 2019.
On December 18, 2019, a Nairobi court issued orders barring Lawyer George Wajackoya from representing Sharon Otieno's family in a murder case against Migori Governor Okoth Obado.
The court's decision was based on a five-hour meeting between Wajackoya and Obado at the police station before the governor was charged with murder on September 24, 2018.
Obado had petitioned the court to disqualify Wajackoya from the case, citing that the lawyer had privileged information which he was apprehensive may be revealed and/or shared with the prosecution.
According to Obado, the continued appearance of Wajackoya in the case would breach his constitutional right to a fair trial and cause great miscarriage of justice.
Sharon Otieno, a 26-year-old university student, went missing on September 3, 2018, after a meeting with a Nation journalist in Migori. Her body was found two days later near Kodera Forest in Homa Bay County, with evidence of eight stab wounds, strangulation, and rape.
