THE governor of Migori in Kenya, Okoth Obado, was charged with murder on Monday following the death of his young lover whose body was found dumped in a forest.

Obado who initially denied having an affair with the 26-year old student, Otieno Sharon, was arrested after the DNA testing confirmed he was the father of the seven-month-old fetus that died with her, the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) reported.

Obado, before the court, pleaded not guilty to the killing of the university student.

Though he admitted to having a sexual relationship with Sharon but denied any involvement in her gruesome murder.

He was remanded at Industrial Area prison pending the hearing of his bail application on Tuesday.

Sharon was found dead at a thicket on September 4 after she was kidnapped.

The autopsy report revealed that she was stabbed eight times and strangled while the seven-month-old foetus in her womb was also stabbed to death.

Kenya’s chief prosecutor, Noordin Haji, said in a statement that his office is committed to ensuring that all perpetrators of the heinous act are subjected to the due process of the law.

Obado, his personal assistant, his bodyguard, two local officials, and a taxi driver were arrested in connection with the murder.

The bodyguard, John Chacha, was arrested after his phone was traced to have been around the scene of the murder.