High Court to deliver verdict in Sharon Otieno murder case on Thursday
via Tuko1 min read
The High Court in Nairobi is scheduled to deliver its verdict on Thursday, July 23, in the murder case of Sharon Otieno. The trial, which has lasted nearly eight years, involves former Migori governor Okoth Obado, Michael Oyamo, and Caspal Obiero, who are charged in connection with Otieno's death. Sharon Otieno went missing on September 3, 2018, and her body, along with that of her unborn child, was found the following day near Kodera Forest in Homa Bay County. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions presented 42 witnesses, including oral testimony and electronic records such as SMS, WhatsApp messages, and mobile call data. Two witnesses, identified as PW9 and PW38, testified about seeing one of the accused with Otieno around the time of her abduction and leading up to her death. The case's lengthy duration was partly due to interruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. The upcoming ruling is anticipated to conclude this high-profile case that has garnered significant public attention since 2018.
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The Kenyan government has reassured Burundian nationals of their safety in the country following a viral video depicting a Kenyan man verbally confronting a Burundian tea and mandazi vendor. The video showed the Kenyan man questioning the vendor's right to operate in Kenya, accusing Burundian nationals of undercutting local businesses, and demanding to know if the vendor paid taxes. The confrontation escalated with a threat to smash the vendor's flask. Burundian Ambassador to Kenya Fred Ngoga thanked Kenyans who condemned the incident and called for the aggressor's arrest. Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing'Oei issued a public assurance to Burundian nationals living and working in Kenya, stating that they are safe in the country as part of the East African Community. The identities of both the vendor and the aggressor have not been publicly confirmed.
Must ReadThe Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union KMPDU has threatened industrial action, including a nationwide strike, against county governments for failing to implement doctors' adjusted basic salaries. The union states that despite nearly a decade since negotiations began and all legal and technical hurdles being cleared, the salary adjustments from the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement and the May 2024 Return-to-Work Formula have not been reflected in payslips. KMPDU secretary general Davji Atellah confirmed that a special payment code now exists in the government's HR system for processing these salaries across all 47 counties. The union has instructed its branch executive committees to scrutinize July 2026 payslips for compliance. Any county that fails to implement the adjusted rates or provide an arrears payment schedule will face immediate industrial and legal action, including contempt proceedings.
Nairobi City County has saved an estimated KSh 8.48 billion over the last two financial years by reducing its reliance on external law firms and strengthening its internal legal department. A report by the County Assembly鈥檚 Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, covering the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years, indicates that the county shifted more legal work to its in-house advocates. This move has substantially reduced legal costs and improved the management of court cases. The legal department also successfully negotiated down legal fees claimed by external law firms. During the review period, the county concluded 174 court cases, with 84 handled by internal lawyers, achieving a 56% success rate for in-house cases. Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson stated that this strategy of strengthening internal legal capacity will continue, allowing savings to be redirected towards service delivery and development projects.