M-Pesa agents grilled in Wells Fargo boss murder probe

At least two Mpesa agents are among a group of people so far grilled in the probe into the murder of Wells Fargo Human Resource Manager Willis Ayieko.

This is after it emerged the killers of Ayieko withdrew money from his mobile phone through mobile banking.

The agents are supposed to help detectives identify the men who withdrew at least Sh100,000 in different locations in Siaya between October 19 and 20.

Detectives handling the matter said they are making good progress in the probe.

Officials said an autopsy is planned on the body of Ayieko at the Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi.

A team of detectives from Nairobi joined those on the ground on Thursday and announced they are pursuing good leads into his brutal murder.

Police are investigating murder and robbery with violence in connection with the incident.

He was a licensed gun holder. His pistol with 14 bullets was among valuables stolen from him.

The motive is yet to be established.

Ayieko’s body was discovered in Mungowere stream in Yala, Siaya County on October 23 at 2 pm.

The family had reported he was missing on Monday, October 21.

Police said the body was decomposed when it was discovered by a student.

It had bruises on the face and stomach indicating it was dragged on a rough surface.

The body was half naked and seemed to have been tortured elsewhere before being dumped at the scene.

The killers then drove his car to Sabatia area, in Kakamega, which is a few kilometres away and abandoned it on the roadside.

Ayieko went missing last Friday, October 18 after attending a burial vigil event in Gem, Siaya County.

He had stayed until about 10 pm before he left the funeral never to be found alive.

The family said he had left his home in Nairobi and informed them he would be back on Monday as he was to attend two funeral events.

He flew out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Kisumu at about 1 pm and picked up his four-wheel drive car that was waiting for him.

After running a few errands in Kisumu, he drove to a funeral vigil in Gem, Siaya County.

His car had a dash camera and tracking device.

Investigators have pieced together Ayieko’s last moments before his body was discovered almost five days after his abduction.

According to logs Ayieko left Nyamninia at around 10:15 pm on Friday and drove 13 kilometres to Nyabeda centre.

He is believed to have been hijacked on this stretch by people who lay for him.

After about an hour, detectives believe the vehicle, which likely had Ayieko and his abductors on board by then, was moving between Regea, Nyamninia, and Muhanda centres.

It then proceeded to Dudi centre, where it remained stationary between 11:57 pm and 3:44 am on Saturday.

The car later circled back to Regea, where it stopped for eight minutes.

Police state that this was the last time his phone was traced. It however went on and off on Sunday, briefly.

CCTV footage shows the car being driven towards Kakamega.

At 6:04 am on Saturday, the vehicle was seen diverting at Sabatia centre, where it was later abandoned.

The people who hijacked and later murdered Ayieko tried to hide their identities.

Detectives say preliminary findings show whereas Ayieko’s four-wheel drive car had a working dash camera, it was switched off or disabled on Friday October 18 night.

This, according to police shows those who took him were aware of the camera and made efforts to disable it or hide their identities.

Two men who dumped the car in Sabatia a few kilometres away from where the body was found wore caps and never raised their heads while leaving the scene.

They parked the car next to a petrol station and opened its bonnet to suggest there was a mechanical problem before walking away carrying a bag.

The bag is believed to have been containing Ayieko’s personal belongings and other valuables.

Police want to talk to his colleagues as part of the probe into the murder.