Gov. Obado pleads not guilty to Sharon murder, detained at Industrial Area prison

Migori Governor Okoth Obado was on Monday charged with the murder of Sharon Otieno after it was proven that he is fit to stand trial.

Appearing before judge Jessie Lessit, Governor Obado pleaded not guilty to the charge of killing the Rongo University student.

Judge Lessit, however, directed that the governor be detained at the Industrial Area Remand Prison until Tuesday afternoon when his bail application will be heard.

The governor is set to argue his bail application Tuesday afternoon and is likely to spend more days in police custody awaiting the ruling and consolidation of his case with that of his personal Assistant Michael Oyamo.

Governor Obado urged the court to grant him bail arguing that he will avail himself in court any time he is required to do so until the matter is concluded.

“The applicant has an unqualified constitutional right to be presumed innocent until the contrary is concluded,” said Obado, in the bail application filed by his lawyers.

In his affidavit, the governor says he resides in Nairobi County at Green Estate in Lavington, further saying that all his children are in school and they depend on him on all their financial needs, hence, if detained they will suffer.

“I am the sole bread winner of my family,” says Obado.

The governor further pleads with the court to release him on grounds that he is not a flight risk and that he shall not interfere with any witnesses in the matter or the ongoing investigations.

The prosecution, however, intends to oppose Obado’s application and have him denied bail.

The court was told that the Migori Governor is fit to stand trial after a mental assessment confirmed he is of sound mind.