Slain Molo activist Richard OtienoSlain Molo activist Richard Otieno died from head injuries inflicted by a sharp object, Chief Government Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor has said.
Otieno was murdered outside his home in Elburgon town, Nakuru county, on the night of Saturday, January 18, by unknown people.
Oduor said that the weapon used to inflict the injuries on Otieno's head could have been an axe or a machete.
"There were several severe injuries, including multiple slash wounds on the back of the head, which caused a skull fracture and excessive bleeding in the brain," Oduor said after conducting an autopsy on the body on Friday at the Kericho County Level Five Hospital mortuary.
"There were also slash wounds on the front of the skull, though they did not result in fractures," he added.
Otieno, a firce government critic, was popularly known as 'Molo President'.
He was hacked to death two days after he complained that he was receiving threats and was being trailed by three unknown people.
The outspoken activist was found hacked near his home, a few meters from Elburgon police station.
Oduor said they collected samples from his remains for further analysis.
"When two people engage in a violent altercation, they often exchange DNA material. The samples collected will help identify the perpetrators. We also collected fingernail samples for DNA analysis to determine if the deceased was possibly subdued by any substances before meeting his attackers," he explained.
Detectives from the Hormicide Department of the DCI are working the case to unravel the identity of those behind the mysterious murder.
Otieno's family, who were among those present during the postmortem, demanded for justice for their loved one.
Also present during the exercise was family lawyer and officials from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
"We have confirmed the autopsy findings and concur with the chief pathologist's report. This process is a crucial step in the investigation," KNCHR head of complaints and investigations Kamanda Mucheke said.
Otieno met his death in the hands of unkown assailants who clobbered him to death right outside his gate as he returned home after watching an English Premier League match.
