Another suspect in Ayieko murder arrested in Kakamega

A 52-year-old man who helped in the disposal of the body of Wells Fargo Human Resource manager Willis Onyango Ayieko was Tuesday, November 12 arrested in a police operation in Kakamega.

Police said the suspect was arrested in the Doho area, Khisa West over the murder of Ayieko.

He is said to have helped in the disposal of Ayieko’s body in the Mungowere stream on October 23.

This was after Ayieko who had gone missing on October 18 was murdered in a house near the same area while being forced to surrender cash and other valuables.

Police believe the murder of Ayieko was out of violent robbery and all the suspects involved have been arrested.

Two others died in the process of arresting them.

The suspect was scheduled to appear in court where police will ask to hold him as they complete their investigations.

On Friday, a suspect in whose house Ayieko was murdered was detained for 30 days pending a police probe.

Siaya magistrate, Benjamin Limo has ruled that Duncan Onyango alias Otuch be locked in at the Kisumu railways police station, where suspects arrested earlier are being held, pending police investigations into the murder.

The police requested a 30-day detention of the 48-year-old suspect, which Magistrate Limo granted, and ordered him to appear for the case on December 13, 2024.

Ayieko was held and tortured in his house in Luanda Doho village, Kakamega County and police believe he has crucial information.

Ongweso is the fifth suspect to be involved in the murder investigation.

On the other hand, two other suspects, a man and a woman, have since died following a fire exchange with the police who also managed to recover Ayieko’s pistol.

The late Ayieko was buried last weekend at Ong’iende village in Central Alego location, Siaya County, with leaders present demanding that the police extend their search to include those who allegedly planned the murder.

Ayieko went missing on October 18 after attending a funeral in Gem.

The vehicle was found abandoned at a petrol station in Sabatia, Vihiga county.

Another suspect Charles Otieno Odhiambo, 21 was arraigned before Siaya Magistrate Margaret Wamabani last week who granted the prosecution 30 days pending the conclusion of investigations.

Odhiambo who is a bodaboda rider was arrested by police in Kisumu after he was linked to the suspects who are believed to have executed the gruesome murder.

Wambani granted the prayers and ordered that the suspect, who is the fifth in the murder case, be remanded at the Railway Police Station in Kisumu.

She directed that the suspect be subjected to a mental assessment test, adding that the investigating officers are also granted an opportunity to conduct a forensic examination on his two mobile phones.

The suspect told police he was paid Sh9,000 for his work.

The suspect was apprehended in Kisumu and is believed to have played a significant role in the events preceding this tragic incident, police said.

He is alleged to have provided transport for Victor Ouma, also known as Sisco, to the location where Ayieko was killed, investigations have shown.

Another suspect Victor Ouma Okoth is currently in police custody and has been linked to the crime, alongside his deceased brother, Robert Wakolo Okoth, as well as other yet-to-be-identified individuals.

The rider told police he picked Ouma from Kisumu and took him to the Gem area where Ayieko was being held by his brother the late Wakolo and other suspects.

Ouma later walked out of the room with a Samsung mobile phone believed to belong to Ayieko.

They made trips to and from various Mpesa dealers and banks for withdrawals.

He told police Ouma was wearing a blue jacket at the time of the incident.

The same jacket was captured on various CCTV footage captured at the withdrawal areas.

Police say the late Wakolo had been involved in several violent robberies, including the fatal shooting of a female Mpesa agent in Kisumu on January 27, 2024.

The father of the slain suspect who positively identified the body at the mortuary told the detectives that the son’s real name is Robert Wakolo Okoth.

He added that his alias names, based on who asked, were George Oduor Okoth and Kim.

“A national ID card retrieved from a police exhibit store for wanted criminals earlier seized during a security operation, and a report obtained from the National Registration Bureau (NRB) confirmed the father's claim,” the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said.

Okoth was shot dead in a security operation and a firearm, a Smith and Walter pistol, was recovered from him.

He had earlier escaped a police dragnet leaving behind a rolling vehicle and a seriously injured female passenger, who later died, was fatally injured to subdue him.

Police said the suspect hailed from the Rai area of Nyamasaria in Kisumu County.

Detectives who had been profiling the hitherto unidentified robbery suspect linked the 34-year-old to a series of violent attacks.

Wakolo shot dead Mpesa agent Grace Awino Odera on January 27 at Kibuye market near Hekima School in Lolwe.

In the incident, one suspect was arrested, and an AK 47 rifle earlier robbed from a Ugandan police officer was recovered.

Also recovered was a Toyota Axio used by the suspects in the robbery.

On May 3, 2024, detectives raided Wakolo’s home in Nyamasaria, recovering another AK 47 rifle, a magazine and 36 live rounds of ammunition. Although he managed to escape, his 17-year-old younger brother and suspected accomplice was arrested and charged.

Wakolo was also wanted by Kondele police for robbery with violence and possessing a magazine and ammunition.