‘Stay Away From My Husband,’ Obado PA Confirms the Threatening Messages Sharon Received Before Her Murder

Court hears chilling messages as Personal Assistant confirms threats extracted from victim’s tablet

Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado’s Personal Assistant Michael Oyamo confirmed in court Friday that murder victim Sharon Otieno received threatening messages on her phone before her death, providing crucial testimony in one of Kenya’s most closely watched murder trials.

Appearing before Justice Cecilia Githua at Milimani High Court on May 23, 2025, Oyamo corroborated prosecution evidence that revealed disturbing threats extracted from Sharon’s tablet during the investigation.

The threatening messages

Defense lawyer Ogada Meso read several menacing messages to the court, including one that warned: “Please leave my husband alone, I can do you the worst, you will not walk away with it.”

Another message escalated the threats further, demanding Sharon leave an unnamed husband alone and adding ominously that if she refused, “unbelievable will be the order of the day.”

The messages painted a picture of escalating harassment, with Sharon responding that she did not remember being involved with anyone’s husband. Oyamo confirmed to the court that these were “real-life threats sent to Sharon” that had been presented as evidence by prosecution witness number 26.

During his testimony on the third day of defense hearings, Oyamo firmly denied any role in Sharon’s murder or conspiracy to harm her.

“My lady, I did not collude with anyone with the intention of harming or killing the late Sharon Otieno, and I did not also do that on my own,” Oyamo told Justice Githua.

In dramatic testimony, Oyamo alleged he was tortured by police who attempted to coerce him into implicating Governor Obado in the murder plot.

He claimed officers took him from Uriri police station to Kisumu, where he was locked in a car for six hours while handcuffed.

“The police wanted me to be part of the story and say the Governor organized the killing of the lady and sent me. They wanted me to put it in writing,” Oyamo stated, adding that he feared being poisoned while in custody.

The court heard that Oyamo was recorded twice in police books at Uriri station – first as someone reporting an attempted abduction, then as a suspect to be charged with kidnapping.

Alibi evidence

Oyamo admitted being in Kisii town on the morning of September 4, 2018, due to a cancelled Nairobi trip, but denied seeking medical attention that day – testimony that may be crucial to establishing his whereabouts during the alleged crime.

The proceedings faced a delay when Director of Public Prosecutions representative Gikui Gichui requested time to review new documentary evidence presented by the defense, including travel documents and Safaricom records.

“We will be requesting time so that we can consult with the Investigative Officer on the matter concerning the new exhibits,” prosecutor Gichui told the court, requesting copies of all new documents for cross-examination preparation.

The Sharon Otieno murder case has gripped Kenya since 2018, involving allegations against high-profile political figures.

The threatening messages revealed in court add a new dimension to understanding the circumstances surrounding her death and the potential motives behind the crime.

The case has been adjourned until June 11, 2025, for further directions.