The court on October Wednesday 24, 2018 released Migori County governor Zachary Okoth Obado on a Sh 5 million bail.
Obado who appeared before Lady Justice Jessie Lessit in Milimani Law Courts was freed on a bail where as his two aides Michael Oyamo and Caspal Obiero were denied.
He was however given conditions upon his release where the court has ordered him not to discuss matters considering his case. Obado has also been restricted not to get any near the family of Sharon Otieno.
The governor is also required to give assurance of the same amount given to him as a bail by two people upon his release today.
The prosecution had opposed his release on bail citing interference with witnesses. The State also said he was a flight risk because, if convicted of the offence, he faced the death sentence.
However, Kenyans on Twitter have raised a debate following Obado’s release, questioning the reasons as to why the state had to release the governor shortly after the burial of the deceased.
Some now say that the state was just waiting for the burial before releasing the prime suspect whom they argue has been set free for good, with some arguing that the case may die following the recent incidences of court case files disappearing, with the latest being the file for KPLC corruption case and that of the murder of Meru magistrate’s daughter Maribel Kapolon.
It’s like the state was only waiting for Sharon Otieno’s burial before releasing one Okoth Obado. Mysterious disappearing of WITNESSES in this case is the next phase of this story.
— susan njagi (@SueKE254) October 24, 2018
Sharon Otieno murder pre-trial set for February 14, basically we all will be talking about something different no one will ever remember this case, and thats how it’ll end, sdaly, hypothetically
— #OMOLOS (@its_always_gabu) October 24, 2018
So today Migori Governor Okoth Obado will be sleeping in his Ksh 1.5 million bed as Sharon Otieno rots 6 feet under the ground. Si hiyo ni krimino? Eeh, hiyo ni krimino. pic.twitter.com/OCHZYlFeNZ
— Victor Mochere (@VictorMochere) October 24, 2018
Sharon’s mother had earlier urged the Court not to release Obado on bail citing family fear.
The prosecution had also obstructed Obado’s bail application citing fear and intimidation of witnesses in the case whose probe is still going on.
Some Kenyans on twitter are now expressing fear that the case may just end unconditionally and blame later turned on the loss of the files with the charges.
So Governor Okoth Obado has been freed on a Cash bail of ksh. 5 Million over the Murder of Sharon Otieno. Kidogo Kidogo utaskia Files missing at DCI and ODPP. Nobody had a copy. He will be free in No time. This is Kenya.
— BRAVIN™ (@ItsBravin) October 24, 2018