Sharon’s mother, Melida Auma, asked the court not to sentence Obado to death or life imprisonment, saying such a punishment would feel like losing another member of her family.
She made the plea on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, during mitigation and sentencing proceedings at the Milimani High Court.
Auma told Justice Cecilia Githua that Sharon’s family had forgiven Obado and asked the court to consider a non-custodial sentence.
She said the family had seen remorse from the former governor during the period following Sharon’s death and throughout the court proceedings.
Through their lawyer, Sharon’s parents also urged the court to consider their emotional and psychological needs when determining the sentence.
They argued that restorative justice should take into account the views and circumstances of the victims’ family.
The plea comes after Obado was convicted in connection with the 2018 murder of Sharon Otieno. The court found the prosecution had proved its case against Obado and his two co-accused, Michael Juma Oyamo and Caspal Ajwang Obiero.
However, the prosecution told the court that while Sharon’s parents had a right to express their views, the ultimate decision on sentencing remained with the judge.
State counsel argued that the offence affected not only the family but also the wider community and that the sentence should reflect the seriousness of the crime.
The emotional proceedings have once again brought Sharon’s family into the spotlight as the court considers the appropriate punishment following the long-running case.
The latest developments have attracted widespread attention, with Kenyans closely following the court’s decision on Obado’s sentence.