Do you remember Sharon Otieno? We hope you do.
But owing to the fact that Kenyans forget and move on so fast. Let us take you back to September this year. A mutilated body of a pregnant woman was discovered by a herder in a thicket in Kodera forest near Oyugis on 4th September.
The body was later identified to be that of Sharon Otieno, a 26 year old Rongo University who had been lured to abduction by Michael Oyamo two days earlier. Michael Oyamo was Migori governor Okoth Obado’s Personal Assistant.
An autopsy report revealed that Sharon gang raped before being stabbed eight times. One of the stabs penetrated her belly and killed her unborn baby, whom a paternal test had been fathered by Obado.
I am now sure that you can remember the rest of the story. It has now emerged that Michael Oyamo and Caspal Obiero, the only two suspects who are still in custody have appealed against a decision that denied them bail.
The two; Michael Juma Oyamo and Caspal Ojwang Obiero, argue that judge Jessie Lessit “erred and misdirected herself” in declining to release them on bail thereby violating their right and fundamental freedom.
They want the court to set aside the said ruling and admit them to bail on reasonable terms.
The two were charged alongside Governor Obado who was released on a bail of Ksh.5 million pending hearing and determination of the case.
In denying Oyamo and Obiero bail, Justice Lessit stated that their freedom would intimidate witnesses in the case.
“There are compelling reasons not to grant the second and third accused bail at this stage. I find that releasing them may send fear, anxiety to potential witnesses therefore leading to intimidation which may adversely affect the case,” ruled judge Lessit.
The pre-trial hearing was set for February 14 next year.