The aftermath of a Kenyan woman’s murder has brought new debate to Kenya's sponsor, or sugar daddy, relationships.

Sharon Otieno’s mutilated body was found on the side of a road a day after she was reported missing, reports BuzzFeed News.

Otieno, who was seven months pregnant, died from excessive bleeding caused by the eight stab wounds, at least one of which hit her unborn child, according to an autopsy. Comments from the examiner and used condoms found at the scene suggest Otieno was raped before she was killed.

The 26-year-old student was allegedly in a sponsor relationship with Mugori County governor Okoth Obado.

Kenya's sponsor culture has attracted growing attention and debate. As the BBC reports, sponsor relationships typically involve a young woman of meager means and a rich, older man. The young woman in question becomes the man's mistress, and is given both expensive gifts and cash in exchange for her companionship. The relationships are not always sexual, but usually are, and the rendering of gifts and money do not always follow sex.

Otieno’s mother, Melida Auma, said her daughter claimed Obado was both her sponsor and the baby’s father. A DNA test will be performed on the fetus to determine paternity.

“I remember that in the early stages of her pregnancy, I asked her to tell us who was responsible for it, and she told me it was Governor Obado. At one time she even said he had promised to buy her a house and take care of her pregnancy and, later, the baby,” Auma told Daily Nation. “Little did I know she would meet her death in such a brutal way.”

Obado’s assistant, Michael Oyamo, is the only person who has been arrested in connection with the crime so far, and was one of the last people to see Otieno alive, according to a witness.

Otieno allegedly wanted to go public with her story and scheduled a meeting with Daily Nation journalist Barrack Oduor. Oduor scheduled a meeting with Oyamo and Otieno to get the governor’s side of the story.

According to Odour, the group met at a hotel. Odour claims Oyamo refused to hold the meeting at the appointed place, and instead wanted to drive to a different place.

Odour and Otieno got in a car with Oyamo, and Odour says that's when things began to go wrong.

Odour claims the driver pulled over during the trip, allowing Oyamo to exit and two men to jump in. The journalist later told police these men attacked him and Otieno and demanded their belongings. Oduor says he fought them off and jumped out of the moving vehicle. He was found on the road and was driven to a police station by a good Samaritan, where he gave a statement.

Oyamo is being held without bail, but has not been formally charged. Obado will only speak through his lawyer, Cliff Ombeta, as has not been questioned by the authorities.

"When you start hearing politicians saying that the governor should be investigated and that they want him arrested because he is ultimately the master of the personal assistant (Michael Oyamo), you can see that there is intended malice. These are people speaking out of ignorance and without facts," Ombeta said.

Other lawmakers have called for the public to allow the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to conclude its investigation before blaming Obado for the death. The director of that unit, George Kinoti, blamed someone above Oyamo for the crime, but refused to name who that person might be.

“The godfather hatched the plan. He is the key person who procured the offence and has a direct link to the agent, who is already in our custody,” Kinoti told Daily Nation. “This is an organized criminal ring that requires careful investigation and arrest so that we do not detain the wrong person, and also so that those we arrest do not jeopardize the arrests of others.”

Meanwhile, Otieno’s death has polarized the country.

Some people believe she deserved to die for her relationship with the governor:

Why should I pity Sharon Otieno who was found dead in Kodera Forest, instead of concentrating with education she is busy grooving with sugar daddies pic.twitter.com/Hl50YAnXQt

— Char-lee Oddie (@Oddcharley) September 5, 2018

Sharon Otieno got what she deserved.
No regrets at all. Let her be a lesson all team ku sponsoriwa na fake slayqueens #JusticeForSharonOtieno

— ???????? Man's no name (@anericod) September 5, 2018

So Sharon Otieno's mother was privy to this relationship but instead of providing wise counsel to her daughter, she collaborated and enjoyed alongside. As a mature woman didn't she know the possible outcome of such relationships? Mother, please be responsible.

— LAMECK K'OPERE (@lkopere) September 6, 2018

RE: Sharon Otieno's case~>"When we tell young girls to stop running after old and powerful men, they gang up to call us trash!
Young girls, just stop running after old men, it’s never going to end well.
Look for that young visionary man and build your future together."

— Lloyd Onyango (@lloydOnyango) September 5, 2018

Killing is a vice.
Prostitution is a vice too.
As you condemn the killing of Sharon Otieno, please condemn her hoeing too. Just because you baptized hoeing as "having a sponsor" doesn't make it less a vice.

— INCREDIBLY TERRIBLE (@allen_arnold) September 5, 2018

Others want justice for the young woman:

Those criticising Sharon Otieno for having had a "sponsor" instead of focusing on studies. My answer: John 8:7 … "He that is without sin among you, cast the first stone…" A life has been lost. That is tragic. #RIPSharon Preach the lessons to others later please…

— Carol Radull (@CarolRadull) September 5, 2018

Sad that some netcitizens have completed their investigations, found Sharon Otieno & the unborn baby guilt of sin, convicted her & sentenced her & the baby to death. Now they are busy justifying why she had to https://t.co/uHt346Ucag are as evil as the murderers.

— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) September 5, 2018

Being a woman in Kenya is a crime. Being a woman in Kenya, in the company of a powerful man is a capital offense. Being a man in Kenya in the company of a beautiful woman makes you a god. Kenya hates women. Thanks for attending this Ted Talk. #JusticeForSharonOtieno

— Njeri wa Gakûo (@NjeriWaGakuo) September 5, 2018

It's nonsense AF to think that a sponsor has a right to murder the person they been with, a husband should beat or kill his wife or a nigga should murder his girl IT IS UNACCEPTABLE and this is non NEGOTIABLE. #JusticeForSharonOtieno

— Scheaffer Okore (@scheafferoo) September 5, 2018

Kenyan men (some) are condoning murder. They are justifying the death of #SharonOtieno saying she chose the "sponsor" life but they are okay with the fact that a heavily pregnant Sharon was kidnapped and killed. Words fail me.#JusticeForSharonOtieno
#RIPSharon

— Bella Tebby (@BellaTebby) September 5, 2018

Authorities are still seeking additional suspects in the case and believe a crime ring might have assisted Oyamo with the killing.

Now, check these out:

#MeToo Launches Survey Evaluating Sexual Violence Resources Ahead Of Movement's One-Year Anniversary

Michaela Coel Reveals She Was Sexually Assaulted While Writing ‘Chewing Gum’

Three Young, Transgender Women Were Killed In The Past Week

Sex workers

Get relevant content delivered to you once a week