The High Court has found former Migori Governor Okoth Obado, his former personal assistant Michael Oyamo, and former Migori County Communications Director Caspal Obiero guilty of the 2018 murder of Sharon Otieno, bringing to a close one of Kenya's most closely watched criminal trials.

In a judgment delivered by Justice Cecilia Githua, the court found that the prosecution had proved its case against the three accused, holding them criminally responsible for the brutal killing of the university student, who was heavily pregnant at the time of her death.

The case, which shocked the nation in September 2018, revolved around Sharon's relationship with Obado and the pregnancy she was carrying. Throughout the trial, prosecutors argued that the pregnancy became the motive behind a carefully orchestrated plan that ultimately ended in her murder.

Justice Githua accepted key elements of the prosecution's case, including evidence that Obado had admitted having an intimate relationship with Sharon, resulting in the pregnancy. According to the judgment, the court found that the relationship and the pregnancy formed the foundation of the events that culminated in Sharon's unlawful killing.

The judge also found that Obado had allegedly pressured Sharon to terminate the pregnancy, withdrawn financial support, and only resumed communication after learning that she intended to publicly disclose their relationship.

In another significant finding, Justice Githua agreed with the prosecution that money transferred to Sharon through intermediaries, including Michael Oyamo, was not genuinely intended for her welfare, but instead formed part of the chain of events leading to the commission of the offence.

The prosecution relied on witness testimony, call data records, financial transactions and other circumstantial evidence to demonstrate coordination among the accused before Sharon was abducted and later found murdered in Homa Bay County.

Sharon Otieno's killing sparked national outrage, not only because of the brutality of the crime but also because it involved a sitting governor and senior county officials. The case remained in the public spotlight for years as the trial progressed through numerous hearings.

With the guilty verdict now delivered, attention shifts to sentencing, where the court will determine the punishment to be imposed on Okoth Obado, Michael Oyamo and Caspal Obiero in accordance with Kenyan law.

For Sharon Otieno's family, the judgment marks a significant step in their long pursuit of justice after nearly eight years of court proceedings. The case is expected to remain one of the most consequential criminal convictions involving a senior public official in Kenya's recent history.