The High Court in Nairobi has deferred the sentencing of former Migori Governor Okoth Obado and his two co-convicts in the murder of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno to November 27, 2026.

The decision was made on Wednesday, September 16, after the court heard submissions from the parties involved in the long-running case. Justice Cecilia Githua is expected to deliver the sentencing decision at the Milimani Law Courts on November 27 at 10:30 a.m.

Obado, his former personal assistant Michael Juma Oyamo and former Migori County Clerk Caspal Obiero were convicted of Sharon Otieno’s murder in July 2026, bringing to an end the trial phase of a case that had remained before the courts for nearly eight years.

The three had been facing charges over the death of Sharon, whose killing in September 2018 attracted widespread national attention and became one of the most closely followed criminal cases in Kenya.

The sentencing stage follows the High Court’s July 23 judgment in which the court found the three men guilty of murder after determining that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

According to the judgment, the court found that the accused persons had acted in concert, with each playing a different role in the events surrounding Sharon’s death. The court attributed different forms of involvement to the three men and concluded that the evidence presented during the trial established their criminal responsibility.

The sentencing hearing therefore represents another significant stage in the case, with the court now expected to determine the appropriate punishment after considering submissions from the prosecution, the defence and other parties involved.

Sharon Otieno was abducted on September 3, 2018, before her body, together with that of her unborn child, was discovered the following day in a thicket near Kodera Forest in Homa Bay County. Her death generated widespread public concern and renewed discussions about the safety of women and the need for justice in cases involving violent crime.

The case subsequently entered the judicial system and went through several stages before reaching the judgment delivered in July 2026.

During the trial, the prosecution called 42 witnesses and relied on both witness testimony and electronic evidence. The evidence included mobile phone records, text messages and WhatsApp conversations, among other material presented before the court.

The proceedings stretched over several years, with the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in court operations contributing to delays in the judicial process.

After hearing the evidence, the High Court eventually found Obado, Oyamo and Obiero guilty of murder.

The court’s decision in July meant that the case moved from the question of guilt to the issue of sentencing. The sentencing process allows the parties to make submissions on the appropriate punishment and gives the court an opportunity to consider the circumstances surrounding the offence as well as information presented through the relevant reports.

Before the sentencing hearing, the court also received a probation report containing information about the impact of Sharon’s death on her family.

Sharon’s family has told the court about the financial and emotional consequences of the murder and the lengthy court process. According to the probation report, the family has faced significant financial difficulties while attending court proceedings over the years.

The report stated that the family had spent approximately KSh1.2 million on travel, accommodation and meals during the years of court proceedings in Nairobi.

It also estimated funeral and burial expenses at approximately KSh3.5 million.

The family said it had been forced to sell some property and livestock to meet expenses associated with the murder, funeral and court proceedings.

The impact has extended beyond the immediate family. Sharon left behind three children, whose future has remained one of the concerns raised in the victim impact statement.

Her parents and siblings have also described the emotional and psychological difficulties they have experienced since her death.

The family asked the court to consider compensation and other measures that could help address the needs of Sharon’s children and other affected relatives. The probation report also recommended that the court consider the circumstances and needs of the victim’s family when determining the appropriate sentence.

The family has also sought psychological and trauma counselling, saying the prolonged legal process and continued public attention surrounding the case have contributed to their distress.

The probation report further indicated that attempts had been made to facilitate reconciliation between Sharon’s family and the families of the accused persons.

Representatives of Obado’s family reportedly participated in a reconciliation meeting with Sharon’s family in August. According to the report, members of Obado’s family acknowledged commitments that had previously been made to Sharon and indicated a willingness to honour them.

However, the reconciliation process did not produce the same outcome across all the families involved.

With the sentencing now moved to November 27, the court will have additional time to consider the submissions and reports presented before it.

The postponement means that Obado, Oyamo and Obiero will have to wait until November before learning the sentences that will be imposed following their convictions.

The case has attracted significant public interest because of Sharon’s age, her status as a university student and the circumstances surrounding her death.

The murder also became a major national story because of the political profile of Obado, who was serving as Migori Governor at the time.

However, the judicial process has focused on the evidence presented before the court rather than the political positions previously held by the accused.

The High Court’s July judgment concluded that the prosecution had established the elements of the offence of murder beyond reasonable doubt. The court also found that the accused persons had a common intention and that their actions amounted to malice aforethought.

The sentencing stage will now focus on the appropriate punishment following those findings.

The court is expected to consider the submissions made by the prosecution, defence and the victim’s family, alongside the probation report and other relevant information before making its determination.

For Sharon’s family, the postponement prolongs a legal journey that has already lasted nearly eight years.

Since Sharon’s death in 2018, her relatives have attended numerous court sessions as they followed the proceedings. The conclusion of the trial in July brought a major milestone, but the sentencing process remains outstanding.

The family has repeatedly emphasized the need for justice and support for Sharon’s children.

The court will ultimately determine the sentence based on the law and the circumstances established through the judicial process.

The November 27 date will therefore be closely watched by the families involved, legal representatives and members of the public who have followed the case since 2018.

The decision will mark another major chapter in a case that has remained before the Kenyan courts for years.

The Sharon Otieno murder case has also highlighted the challenges faced by victims’ families during lengthy criminal proceedings. Beyond the question of conviction, families can face financial costs, emotional distress and uncertainty while waiting for cases to conclude.

In Sharon’s case, the victim impact submissions have brought attention to these broader consequences, particularly the effect of the murder on her three children and aging parents.

As the November sentencing date approaches, the court will be expected to weigh all the relevant information before issuing its decision.

For now, the three convicted men remain at the centre of the sentencing proceedings, while Sharon’s family continues to await the final outcome of the case.

The High Court’s decision to defer sentencing to November 27 provides the court with more time to consider the submissions already made and the information contained in the probation report.

The case will return to the Milimani Law Courts on Friday, November 27, at 10:30 a.m., when Justice Cecilia Githua is expected to deliver the sentencing decision.

The date will mark another important moment in a case that began with Sharon Otieno’s death in September 2018 and has since developed into one of Kenya’s most closely followed murder trials.

While the convictions have already been delivered, the sentencing will determine the punishment to be imposed on Okoth Obado, Michael Juma Oyamo and Caspal Obiero following the High Court’s findings.

Until then, all parties will await the court’s final determination on the sentences.