Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Paul Ongili Popularly known as Babu Owino has called on President William Ruto to intervene and order the immediate release of a missing fisherman.
In a statement on Friday, February 7, the ODM MP highlighted the case of five chiefs who were abducted by suspected al-Shabaab militants and the government has undertaken to get the abducted chiefs back to their families as a matter of urgency.
He urged that the same level of effort be extended to Brian Odhiambo, who has been missing for over 20 days.
“A multi-agency team is working around the clock to secure the freedom of the chiefs and bring them back. We support the effort to bring the chiefs back, but similarly, Brian Odhiambo must also be located and reunited with his distraught family." Said Babu.
“President Ruto, intervene and order KWS and local security agents in Nakuru to release Odhiambo and hand him over to his family, just as you have done in securing the release of the five chiefs,” said Owino.
Odhiambo went missing on Saturday, January 18, with Nakuru County locals claiming to have seen him being forcibly taken away by KWS officers from the Lake Nakuru National Park.
His alleged abduction resulted in widespread protests in Nakuru with locals demanding his release.
On Thursday Nakuru Law Courts Judge, Justice Julius Nangea ruled that there was no sufficient evidence to prove that Odhiambo had been detained by KWS officers.
"The 1st and 2nd respondents have denied having the subject in their custody and there being no sufficient evidence to the contrary, no further orders or directions will be used in relation to the habeas corpus application. Let the prosecution process that is underway take its course," Justice Nangea ruled.
This comes in the wake of more insecurity incidents in Nakuru County.
In a different incident, The Young Family Of a Molo human rights activist, Richard Otieno is struggling to come to terms will his untimely demise last month.
Otieno, a huge Critic of the Government and Molo Member Of Parliament (Mp) Kuria Kimani, was brutally killed on January 18, 2025.
The late prominent Nakuru youth leader's wife, disclosed that she held a phone conversation with her husband moments before he was murdered.
Speaking to the media on Monday, January 20, Margaret Mwihaki explained that Otieno had called to inform her to open their gate as he was coming home.
However, Mwihaki noted that when she went to open the gate, she realised that it was already opened and she went back to the house.
“He called me and told me to open the gate because he was coming home. Before I reached the gate to open it, I found it was already open and so I went back to the house. When I got to the bedroom, I heard someone screaming. We later found out it was Richard. He was lying on the floor and had deep cuts on his head,” Mwihaki told the press.
Otieno was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
His wife claimed that days before his death, some unknown individuals followed him while he was going home.
Otieno’s family alleged that he had been receiving threats even as they called for justice for their slain kin.
An autopsy conducted on Otieno's body by Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor confirmed that he died from severe head injuries caused by a sharp object.
"The late Richard had several severe injuries; there were multiple slash wounds on the back of the head which led to fracture of the skull and extensive bleeding of the brain. There were also some slash wounds on the frontal area of the skull though this one did not fracture the skull and there were also bruises on the face," he said.
Oduor also noted that the examination revealed evidence suggesting that Otieno attempted to defend himself during the attack.
"We also found more bruises on the arm which looked like he was trying to defend himself. From these findings we can say that the late Richard died as a result of severe head injuries which were caused by a sharp object which could either be a panga or an axe used severally on the head," he added.
Meanwhile, The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has arrested five individuals linked to the brutal murder.
In a statement on Monday, February 3, DCI said the suspects include both direct perpetrators and individuals who aided in the crime.
According to the investigating agency, the primary suspects are Geoffrey Mavado, John Ndegwa, and Jorim Ngonga Sura.
The two remaining suspects, Clinton Simantu alias Muiruri and Peter Mwaniki alias Pinchez, are bodaboda operators who allegedly transported the hitmen.
"The suspects are prime suspects Geoffrey Mavado, John Ndegwa, and Jorim Ngonga Sura, believed to have been directly involved in the brutal killing. The other two; Clinton Simantu alias Muiruri and Peter Mwaniki alias Pinchez are bodaboda operators who have been identified as the persons who ferried the hitmen to and from the scene of crime," the statement read.
DCI noted that this was not the first time Mavado and Ndegwa have been connected to Otieno as they were on November 8, 2024, arrested and charged for assaulting him.
"Earlier on November 8, 2024, Geoffrey Mavado and John Ndegwa had been arrested and charged for assaulting the deceased and were sentenced to a one-year probation. In the course of the homicide probe, the two were forensically placed at the scene of crime, and crucial evidence has been collected to aid their prosecution," the statement added.
DCI said all five suspects are in custody as the investigation continues.
"All the suspects have been taken to custody and are being processed for arraignment. Meanwhile, the investigators drawn from the Homicide Directorate, Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau and Operations are interrogating the case further with a view to bring any more suspects to book," the statement concluded.
Three days ago, A Nakuru court granted police some 21 more days to hold the five suspects implicated in the gruesome murder of the Molo human rights activist, until the conclusion of their investigations.