Someone is after my life, star witness in Sharon Otieno murder trial tells court
Jackson Otieno Gombe, a taxi driver gives his testimony at Milimani Law Court on July 28, 2023, in a case on the murder of Sharon Otieno in September of 2018.
Taxi driver Jackson Gombe, a star witness in the case against Migori ex-Governor Okoth Obado, is now seeking State protection, citing threats to his life.
Mr Gombe, who said he drove slain Rongo University student Sharon Otieno and her killers on the fateful day, claims relatives of some of the accused persons were after his life.
Former Migori governor Okoth Obado and his co-accused in the murder of university student Sharon Otieno have been warned not to threaten or interfere with witnesses in the ongoing trial.
Ruling on an application by taxi driver Jack Otieno Gombe that he needed protection following threats to his life, High Court Judge Cecilia Githua ordered the accused to desist from interfering with the current witness or any other witness in the future.
Justice Githua dismissed Gombe's application that he needed protection, saying "no tangible evidence has been produced to prove the allegation".
But the judge said she would not hesitate to revoke bail or take action against anyone found to be disrupting the trial.
"This court will not hesitate to take stern action against any person who interferes with State witnesses," Justice Githua warned.
Mr Gombe, through State prosecutor Allen Mulama, told the judge after the last hearing he was approached by a relative of one of the accused, Casper Obiero, to stop testifying.
He said Gombe’s brother Ken was approached by Olivia Adhiambo Oloo (Casper's wife) to warn him not to testify in the case.
Mr Gombe told the judge that he feared for his life and wanted to be returned to witness protection.
Mr Mulama also said Mr Gombe had expressed fear for his family.
Mr Mulama urged the court to order the DCI to investigate the allegations of witness interference.
Justice Githua ordered DCI officers in Suna East to investigate the witness' allegations.
Justice Githua dismissed the application to place Gombe under witness protection.
Last week, Mr Gombe told High Court Judge Cecilia Githua that on September 3, 2018, he was called by a police officer and told to head to Homa Bay where he was to meet Michael Oyamo, the governor’s personal assistant.
Mr Gombe said Mr Oyamo picked up Sharon and another man and took them to his taxi.
Former Migori Governor Zachary Okoth Obado (right), his co-accused Michael Oyamo at Milimani High Court in Nairobi on July 14, 2022.
He told the court that Mr Oyamo was left in Homa Bay while three men he (Mr Oyamo) was with got into his taxi along with Sharon and the man who was in Sharon's company.
Reached Sondu
The three men then told Mr Gombe to drive towards Kisumu. However, when he reached Sondu he was told to stop.
He said it was between 9 and 10pm when they reached an uninhabited area. The men took Sharon into the forest and never returned with her.
“I was ordered to switch off the vehicle lights and turn off the engine. The three men left with Sharon and into the forest. One man ordered me to wait they will come back,” Gombe recalled.
He said after about 20 minutes the three men returned alone and I asked them, “Where is the girl you went with?”
Sharon Otieno. A taxi driver who was hired by three men to drive university student Sharon Otieno to her death has testified against former Migori governor Okoth Obado.
"When I asked them where the woman was, they replied in Kiswahili huyo tumemwacha kwao (we’ve left her at their home)," Mr Gombe told Magistrate Githua as he was led in his evidence by the prosecutor.
After that response, the judge heard one of the hitmen ordered him to drive them to Migori.
