A day after former Migori Governor Okoth Obado was found guilty of the 2018 murder of Sharon Otieno, his lead lawyer Cliff Ombeta has mounted a strong defence of the conviction, arguing that the prosecution failed to directly connect his client to the crime and that the evidence presented in court did not meet the required threshold.
In a statement posted on his social media platform on Friday, Ombeta maintained that Obado was innocent, insisting there was no evidence placing him at the scene of the crime or directly linking him to the killing.
"Obado did not commit that offence. I don't know about the others. Even the circumstantial evidence (non-existent) could not put him in any scene or act," Ombeta said.
Ombeta also criticised the reasoning adopted by the trial court, arguing that the conviction was based on assumptions rather than proven facts.
"The court (Judge) imagined he was afraid of publicity and embarrassment and therefore..." Ombeta stated.
The advocate further questioned the prosecution's theory of the case, suggesting that other possibilities may not have been fully considered during the trial.
"Was it possible other family did it.." he asked.
His remarks come after the High Court convicted Obado, alongside his co-accused Michael Oyamo and Caspal Obiero, over the murder of Sharon Otieno, a case that has drawn national attention since 2018.
In the judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Cecilia Githua ruled that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the three acted with a common intention to kill Sharon.
The judge found that the evidence showed Obado financed the murder, while Oyamo and Obiero played different roles in carrying out and covering up the crime.
Although Obado was not at the scene when Sharon was killed, the court held that the evidence presented during the trial established that he was involved in planning and facilitating the offence.
Following the conviction, the court cancelled the bond terms for Obado, Oyamo and Obiero and ordered that they remain in custody pending sentencing.
Ombeta's remarks have added a new twist to one of Kenya's most closely watched murder cases and are expected to keep public and legal debate alive as the defence prepares for mitigation and any possible appeal against the conviction.