Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado is now being held at Industrial Area Remand Prison after the High Court found him guilty in the 2018 murder of university student Sharon Otieno.
Following the conviction, the court cancelled the bond terms that had allowed him and his two co-accused to remain free during the trial and ordered that they be taken into custody as they await mitigation, pre-sentence reports, and sentencing. Reports indicate that Obado has been placed in the same prison block and cell section as former Nairobi Central Police Station OCS Samson Talam, who is facing separate criminal charges linked to the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang.
Obado was taken to the correctional facility shortly after the court delivered its decision. He arrived alongside his co-accused, Michael Oyamo and Caspal Obiero, who were also convicted in the Sharon Otieno murder case. After they were processed at the prison, the three men were assigned accommodation in Block G, an area that is reportedly reserved for high-profile inmates and others who require enhanced security or special management.
According to reports, Block G is also where Samson Talam is being held. Talam is facing charges in a separate case concerning the death of Albert Ojwang. His case is still before the courts, and under the law, he remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The reports state that after Obado, Oyamo, and Obiero were booked into the prison, they were placed in the same cell area as Talam, making them neighbours within the correctional facility as they each await the next stages of their respective court cases.
The prison admission followed standard correctional procedures. Like other inmates in the block, the three men were issued with basic prison items, including a mattress, a bed, and a blanket for use during their stay.
However, they arrived later in the evening after supper had already been served.
As a result, they did not receive the evening meal on their first night at the prison. Before they were transported from court, they had reportedly taken some fruit and soft drinks.
The latest development has attracted significant public attention because of the long-running Sharon Otieno murder case, which has remained one of Kenya’s most closely followed criminal trials since 2018.
Sharon, a university student, was killed in a case that generated widespread public interest due to the senior political figures linked to the matter and the lengthy court process that followed.
Obado and his co-accused are not new to Industrial Area Remand Prison.
Following their initial arrest in connection with the Sharon Otieno case several years ago, they were previously held in the same prison section before later being released on bail after the court granted them bond.
Their return to the facility comes after the High Court reached its verdict and ordered that they remain in custody pending sentencing.
While reports have highlighted that Obado and Talam are sharing the same prison section, correctional authorities have not issued any official statement confirming the accommodation arrangements of individual inmates. Prison officials generally avoid discussing where specific prisoners are housed, citing security concerns and standard correctional procedures.
Accommodation decisions are usually made after security and risk assessments rather than based on an inmate’s former public office or social status.
The legal process is expected to continue in the coming days as the court prepares to hear mitigation before sentencing the convicted persons. Pre-sentence reports are also expected to guide the court before punishment is determined.
After sentencing, the parties involved may still pursue other legal options that are available under the law.
Attention remains on both the Sharon Otieno murder case and the developments inside Industrial Area Remand Prison, where Obado, Oyamo, Obiero, and Talam are being held in the same prison block while their separate legal matters continue before the courts.
