Sharon Otieno murder: Taxi owner, driver detained for 10 days

Two suspects were on Wednesday arraigned at the Kisii Magistrate’s Court in connection to the murder of Rongo university student Sharon Otieno.

Caspal Ajwang Obiero and Elvis Okoth Omondi however did not take a plea as the Prosecution requested that the suspects be detained at Keroka Police Station for 10 days.

This is to allow investigators enough time to conduct a comprehensive and in-depth probe, the Prosecutor said.

Obiero is said to be the owner of the vehicle suspected to have been used in the abduction while Omondi was the driver.

Through an affidavit sworn by Nicholas Ole Sina attached to the homicide and CID department in Nairobi, the prosecution said the matter is sensitive as it touches on murder of Sharon Otieno.

The prosecution, led by George Muindi said the two suspects were adversely mentioned by witnesses and preliminary investigations linked the two to the murder of Sharon.

The prosecution further said that there were fears that if released, they may interfere with investigations, since one of the suspects was attached to the governor’s office.

As to why the matter was not filed at the Migori court, which has jurisdiction over such a matter, the prosecution cited security reasons, tension, passion and anxiety, among residents.

However, the application was rejected by defense lawyers, Omondi Kisera, who argued that the suspects presented themselves to police yesterday when they were called and had cooperated adding that they were not flight risk.

The lawyers also questioned why the prosecution wanted more time if they had no charge against the two suspects.

However in his ruling, the magistrate said that after looking at the affidavit and and listening to submission from both parties, he was convinced to grant the application for the suspects to be held for 10 days.

The arrest of the two brings to four the number of suspects in police custody in connection to the murder.