A Nakuru court has granted police some 21 more days to hold the five suspects implicated in the gruesome murder of a Molo human rights activist, Richard Otieno until the conclusion of their investigations.
The court allowed the homicide department to detain the five at Kaptembwo police station for more days to facilitate investigations into the brutal killing of the late Richard Otieno
The prosecution, through Inspector Peter Wachira from the DCI's Homicide Department had presented an application to the court to have 30 days to allow them to conduct comprehensive investigations.
Wachira said that the police were waiting to receive a report of DNA analysis from the government chemist.
He said they were yet to record statements of crucial witnesses and analyze mobile phone data of the suspects that could provide leads into apprehending the main suspect in the case.
However, Principal Magistrate Kipkurui Kibelion gave the directive on the grounds that this period of time (21 days) will be ample for the police officers to complete the probe and allow the court to give further guidance on the same matter.
He also said that the officers could move the five suspects namely Clinton Simantu alias Muiruri, Gerald Mavado, Peter Mwaniki alias Pinchez, John Ndegwa and Geoffrey Ngonga to a different police station in the event that they feel that their safety is wanting.
Kibelion noted that this is a matter of public interest that has irked the local residents who took to the streets to demonstrate demanding to know the killers and therefore safety of the suspects is key until the matter is heard and determined.
The case will be mentioned on February 24, 2025.
Further, the investigator told the court that Mavado and Ndegwa were serving a one-year probation sentence after they were charged and found guilty of assaulting Otieno on November 8 last year and thus had been placed at the scene forensically.
Simantu and Mwaniki are bodaboda riders believed to have ferried the killers to and from the murder scene.
Otieno also known as 'Molo President' was attacked and killed by unknown assailants as he headed home on the night of January 18 of this year; a brutal occurrence that happened a few metres from Elburgon police station.
His death sparked public outrage among the local residents who later stormed Elburgon sub-county hospital, stole Otieno's body and took it to Elburgon police station demanding answers from the police.
The irate staged protests but were later dispersed by police officers using teargas canisters along Molo-Elburgon road and body ferried to Kericho County Hospital to help quell the rising tension.
The autopsy led by the government pathologist, Johansen Oduor revealed that the slain human rights activist body had multiple slash wounds inflicted using sharp objects likely a machete or an axe on the back and front areas of the skull that fractured the skull hence causing excessive bleeding of the brain
Representing the family during the procedure was another pathologist, Dr. Titus Ngulungu and Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) representatives were present as well.
Otieno was at the forefront of political matters within the Molo sub-county where he relentlessly scrutinized leaders in a bid to ensure they deliver as per their promises.
