Supporters of Zachary Okoth Obado erupted in celebrations following the release of the Migori County governor accused of killing his seven-month pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sharon Otieno, and her unborn baby.
The supporters had pitched tent outside Milimani Law Courts, Nairobi, to stand in solidarity with their governor who is facing two counts of murder charges alongside his personal assistant Michael Oyamo and Migori County clerk Caspal Obiero.
We, on the morning of Wednesday, October 24, observed Obado's supporters, who had been demanding for his freedom since his arrest, claiming he was innocent, could not hide their joy when they heard he had been freed on bail.
The governor was released on a KSh 5 million cash bail after spending a month in remand in connection with the gruesome murder of Sharon and her baby.
While delivering her ruling, judge Jessie Lessit granted the Migori County chief bail on conditions that he will not go anywhere and will attend all court sessions.
"The accused shall not go anywhere within 20km of Migori County boundary and the court has the liberty to cancel your bail at any time,” the judge ruled. The governor's co-accused, Oyamo and Obiero, were, however, denied freedom and returned to remand at the Industrial Area Prison where they will remain until a pre-trial conference slated for February 14, 2019.
The judge argued Oyamo and Obiero were denied bail because they were likely to abscond court sessions and cause public disturbance if freed. Obado has been in police custody since his arrest on Friday, September 24.
He initially spent three nights at Gigiri Police Station before he was moved to the Industrial Area Remand Prison where he had been awaiting for determination of his bail.
The governor was originally accused of aiding and abetting commission of Sharon's murder between September 3 and September 4, 2018, jointly with Oyamo and Obiero.