Sharon Otieno’s mother, Melinda Auma, has appealed to the High Court to spare former Migori Governor Okoth Obado a death or life sentence, saying her family has forgiven him and does not want to see him suffer further. Auma made the appeal on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, during the mitigation and sentencing proceedings involving Obado and his two co-accused over the murder of Sharon Otieno.
Addressing Justice Cecilia Githua, Auma asked the court to consider a non-custodial sentence for Obado, saying the family had chosen to forgive him following reconciliation efforts. She told the court that Sharon’s family and Obado’s family had agreed to forgive the former governor, whom she described as remorseful during the court proceedings and after Sharon’s death.
Auma said she did not want Obado to receive either a death sentence or life imprisonment, appealing to the court to consider the relationship that had existed between the two families. She further told the court that Sharon left behind three children who are currently being raised by their maternal grandmother. According to Auma, allowing Obado to serve a non-custodial sentence would give him an opportunity to return home and assist in taking care of Sharon’s children.
Family Seeks Reconciliation
The plea came as the High Court considered submissions on the appropriate sentence for Obado, his former personal assistant Michael Juma Oyamo and former Migori County Clerk Caspal Ojwang Obiero. The three were convicted of Sharon’s murder by Justice Githua on July 23, 2026, after the court found that the prosecution had proved the case against them beyond reasonable doubt.
Sharon, a 26-year-old Rongo University student, was abducted and killed in September 2018. She was pregnant at the time of her death and left behind three children. The murder case subsequently went through an eight-year trial before the High Court delivered its conviction.
Ahead of sentencing, Sharon’s parents expressed their desire for reconciliation and asked the court to consider a non-custodial sentence for Obado. Their position was also captured in submissions made through their lawyer, Antony Opondo.
Sharon’s Family Forgives Obado
Auma told the court that the family had forgiven Obado after members of his family reached out seeking reconciliation. She also invoked her Christian faith while making her plea, asking the court to consider forgiveness when determining Obado’s sentence.
Her appeal followed earlier statements from the family indicating that they had forgiven those responsible for Sharon’s death while leaving the matter in the hands of the courts. The family’s position comes against the backdrop of the significant emotional and financial impact caused by Sharon’s death and the prolonged court proceedings.
A victim impact report presented before the court indicated that the family had incurred substantial expenses related to the funeral and the lengthy court case. The family has also raised concerns about meeting the needs of Sharon’s children.
Prosecution Seeks Deterrent Sentence
While Sharon’s parents asked for leniency, the prosecution urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence on Obado and his co-convicts. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions argued that the circumstances surrounding Sharon’s murder, the alleged planning involved and the harm caused to her family should be considered during sentencing. The prosecution maintained that the final decision on the appropriate punishment rests with the court.
Obado Also Seeks Leniency
Obado has separately asked the High Court to spare him a death sentence and impose a three-year non-custodial sentence instead. His plea came after Sharon’s parents told the court they had forgiven him and did not want him sent to prison. The court is expected to determine the sentences for Obado, Oyamo and Obiero on November 27, 2026. The sentencing will mark another major stage in the case that has remained before the courts since Sharon’s death in 2018.
