Melinda Ouma, the mother to the late Sharon Otieno, took the stand during the hearing of the murder case against former Migori Governor Okoth Obado.

 Melinda Ouma, a teacher by profession, stated that the deceased was her first child and had previously been involved in other relationships, resulting in her having three children by various men.

PHOTO | COURTESY Obado and Sharon

"She had a friend named Bernard Okutta, with whom she was in a relationship and who had two children." She lived with Bernard before starting college, and that's when we realized we couldn't let our child be a housewife and sent her back to school. "She had another child with a different man, Henry," she testified.

Melinda added that once the relationship ended, she took her daughter Sharon with her children and stayed with them; shortly after, she discovered Sharon was pregnant again.

PHOTO | COURTESY Obado and Sharon

According to the court, Sharon told her mother that she was in a relationship with Governor Obado but that the then-county leader was not returning her calls.

On the other hand, Melinda stated in court that she disapproved of Sharon's relationship with Obado, saying, "My take as a mother, I told her that I don't like relationships with politicians."

She said that Obado refused to accept the pregnancy and that Sharon was supposedly offered Ksh.30,000 to terminate it but refused.

PHOTO | COURTESY Sharon's mother

According to the court, Obado later agreed to care for Sharon and her unborn child. The court was told that Obado stopped speaking directly with Sharon after discovering she was recording their discussions.

Sharon Otieno, the late wife of former Migori Governor Okoth Obado, insisted on enjoying the lifestyle of a governor's wife.

During a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday, a witness testified that Sharon sought a rental house in Nairobi or Kisumu worth between Ksh.20 and Ksh.25 million. As the Governor's wife, she also desired a luxury car and Ksh.5 million in monthly maintenance.