By Steve Misori in Kenya
Kenya’s Migori County Governor Okoth Obado has been denied bail by Milimani High Court.
Obado’s Lawyer Cliff Ombeta had applied for bail for his client but the Court turned down the request.
This is in a matter in which Obado is charged with murder of his girlfriend Sharon Otieno, who was a university student at Ringo University.
High Court Judge Justice Jessie Lessit said the case at hand is sensitive and Obado as Governor is influential who may tempt to interfere with witnesses.
Murder is bailable offence in Kenya but has the same capital punishment as the rest of Commonwealth states.
But most of the state witnesses are Obado’s juniors at Migori County and the fear is that he may manipulate them.
Obado is accused of murdering his girlfriend Sharon after she became pregnant of him.
He has admitted of having the relationship with Sharon and Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) test confirms that the child was for Obado.
On September 3, alongside a Nation Media Group journalist Barrack Oduor, Sharon was abducted in Rongo town and was later found dead in Kodera forest in Homa Bay County.
The Nation journalist Oduor escaped by jumping out of a speeding car.
The matter is coming up on Thursday September 27, 2018 for ruling on bail application.
Obado is remanded in Police custody.
