Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado and his co accused are set to defend themselves in a hearing scheduled to run from 23rd April 23 and 25, 2025.
This follows a court ruling that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had established a prima facie case against the former county boss and his aides Michael Oyamo and Caspal Obiero over the murder of the late Rongo University student Sharon Otieno.
The court’s decision to place the accused on their defense comes after the prosecution concluded its case in June 2024 after presenting 42 witnesses, including a journalist.
The former governor informed Lady Justice Cecilia Githua that he intends to give sworn evidence in his defense.
He further told the court that he will also present two witnesses during the hearing.
His co-accused, Oyamo and Obiero are scheduled to present their defenses from May 19 to May 23, 2025.
Obado, Oyamo, and Obiero are charged with the murder of Sharon Otieno on the night of September 3, 2018, in a forest within Homa Bay County.
Meanwhile, the terrorism related case against Pastor Paul Mackenzie and 94 others proceeded Tuesday February 25 before a Shanzu Law Court with the prosecution presenting two witnesses.
They are charged with five counts, which include engaging in criminal activity, radicalization and facilitating the commission of a terrorism act, and being in possession of an article connected with an offence under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2012.
It is alleged that on various dates between 2020 and 2023, the accused persons, who were members of the Good News International Ministries, an organized criminal group, engaged in organized criminal activities at Kwa Mackenzie area of Shakahola Forest, Chakama Location of Magarini Sub-County within Kilifi County, endangering lives and killing 429 members and followers.
They are also accused of promoting and/or adopting an extreme belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence, namely fasting to death by advancing religious change, which occurred between 2020 and 2023 at Shakahola Forest within Kilifi County.
[25/02, 21:05] Cyrus Ombati Star: Family, friends of Embu university student demand justice after mysterious death
The family and friends of Daniel Amaya, a university student whose body was found floating in a dam within Embu University compound on Saturday February 22 are demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Their calls for further inquiries come after a postmortem examination conducted at Embu Level 5 Hospital indicated that the 22-year-old second-year student had died from drowning.
His family, however, remains unconvinced by the preliminary findings and insists that more must be done to establish how he ended up in the dam.
Speaking after the autopsy, the deceased’s elder brother, Josphat Amaya, questioned the circumstances of his death, ruling out the possibility of suicide.
He stated that their only concern now is to uncover the truth, which would bring them peace of mind.
The search for Daniel had begun on Wednesday after reports of his disappearance.
His family, who travelled from Kisii, spent three days looking for him before being informed on Saturday that a body had been spotted in a dam within the university.
The discovery of his remains added to the grief and uncertainty they had been enduring since he went missing.
In a separate incident, two days before Daniel’s body was retrieved, another student was found dead within the university premises, having taken his own life by hanging.
The back-to-back deaths have left students and the surrounding community in shock, with growing concerns over student welfare and security at the institution.
Embu West Sub-County Police Commander Zacharia Omae confirmed both deaths and assured that investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances behind them.
He urged students and the public to remain calm as authorities work to unravel the cause of the tragedies.
He encouraged students struggling with personal challenges to seek help, pointing to the need for stronger mental health support systems within the university.
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