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Kenya: Sharon, Unborn Son ‘Forgotten’ As Obado Case Drags On in Court

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6 years ago

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It is year and four months since the body of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno was found in a thicket near Oyugis.

While the macabre killing of the student and her unborn baby left Kenyans in shock, the murder case is still dragging on.

The public outrage has dissipated.

The political drama, posturing and opportunistic promises disappeared with the lowering of Sharon and her son’s coffins into their graves.

On September 4, this year, the family of Sharon commemorated the deaths in a low key event.

The commemoration only attracted a handful of neighbours, friends and relatives.

Kenyans are very fast at forgetting. However, families affected by such tragedies usually bear the brunt of pain and grief.

Top politicians capitalised on the killings to appear on TV, radio and newspaper headlines.

When her body was found and Migori Governor Okoth Obado and some of his aides mentioned as the prime suspects, the issue suddenly became political ammunition.

Leaders shed crocodile tears, demanding “the immediate arrest and prosecution of the killers of Sharon and her son”.

Contacted recently, some of those who were loud at the time of the gruesome find said the ongoing case bars them from commenting on the matter, lest they are changed with contempt of court.

But does that mean it also stops them from attending the murder anniversary?

During the one year anniversary of the deaths, no politician called for speedy conclusion of the case facing Mr Obado.

Sharon’s parents, Mr Douglas Otieno, and Ms Melida Auma, said they believe they have been abandoned “by the loudest noise-makers” at their most critical time.

They said they expected politicians and other leaders to push for justice for their daughter and their unborn grandson.

The distraught family complained of being abandoned. The politicians, they said, should not be taking advantage of calamities to give pledges they cannot fulfil.

“All we want is justice for Sharon and our grandson son,” Mr Otieno told the Nation.

He and his wife pleaded with the Judiciary to speed up the case against the accused.

“Finding someone guilty will give us some closure. We’ve lived with the grief and pain for more than a year. It’s not an experience any parent should go through,” he said.

The grieving parents said they have confidence that individuals would be found guilty of the killings and punished.

Sharon’s killing happened during the Migori Senate seat by-election campaigns.