Embattled Migori Governor Okoth Obado has been secretly dating his wife's step-sister, reports the Nairobian.
Mr. Obado was detained at Gigiri police station on Friday and will face murder charges after being linked to Sharon Otieno's death.
And family sources in Migori claim that Obado's love affair with Rhoda Odie is an open secret.
“He even gifted her a house in Nyasare estate within Migori town,” a relative claimed.
Their relationship is said to have blossomed three years ago when Obado gave her a job as part of catering team in the county.
Sources claim that he even impregnated her and paternal family members forced her to abort a five-month pregnancy to avoid a possible shame.
Mr. Obado's wife, Hellen Obado, is said not to be in good terms with Rhoda and may have precipitated that latter's dismissal from the county.
But county government sources indicate that she's is still in payroll.
“It is common knowledge that Hellen and Rhoda are not friends after she learnt of the affair,” a villager who chose anonymity owing to his closeness to the family said.
But when contacted by the Nairobian Rhoda vehemently denied the allegations adding that she's in good terms with her sister.
“Those are lies. Hellen is my sister and I have never had an affair with the governor,” Rhoda said. She has a child she got with a different man after high school in 2011.
Mr. Cliff Ombeta, Obado's lawyer, termed the emerging claim as a 'cooked story' adding that 'there is nothing like that'.
The governor is now being treated as prime suspect to the slain Rongo University student Sharon Otieno's murder even though he has repeatedly denied.
His aides, Michael Oyamo, Caspal Obiero and Elvis Omondi have been also detained after being mentioned by journalist Barack Oduor as the masterminds of Sharon's abduction. Oduor survived after jumping out of speeding vehicle.