An autopsy conducted on the body of slain activist Richard Otieno, alias Molo President, has revealed the cause of his death.
The autopsy, performed by government pathologist Johansen Oduor, confirmed that Otieno died from severe head injuries inflicted by a sharp object.
Speaking after conducting a post-mortem at the Kericho County Level Five Hospital Mortuary on Friday, January 24, Oduor also revealed that Otieno had bruises on his arms which could suggest that he was struggling to defend himself from the perpetrators.
“There were severe multiple injuries including multiple slash wounds on the back of the head which led to the fracture of the skull and extensive bleeding of the brain,” Oduor said.
“There were also slash wounds on the front area of the skull, though they did not lead to the fracture of the skull and bruises on the face and more bruises on the arm which looked like someone who was trying to defend himself.”
“From those findings, we can say that the late Richard died as a result of severe head injury which was caused by a sharp object which could either be panga or an axe which was used severally on the head.”
Autopsy Reveals How Molo Activist Richard Otieno Died
Oduor revealed that he had taken samples from the body for analysis to assist in apprehending the perpetrators and to determine if the deceased was possibly subdued by any substances before meeting his attackers
“The Lochard principle states that when people meet in a violent manner, there is an exchange of DNA materials,” he said.
“We have collected fingernail samples for DNA analysis, and we have also taken samples for toxicological analysis to determine if something was given to him to slow him down before encountering the assailants at the location where he was.”
Also Read: Family of Molo Activist Richard Otieno Reveals Past Threats Before Murder
Otieno was a youth leader and a fierce critic of government and Molo MP Kuria Kimani.
According to local youths, the activist was attacked and killed by unknown assailants on the night of Saturday, January 18, just 400 meters from the Elburgon Police Station.
Otieno met the cruel hand of death just outside his gate as he returned home from watching an English Premier League football match at a club in Elburgon town.
Molo Activist Received Threats Before Murder
Richard Otieno was found murdered two days after he complained that he was being trailed by three unknown persons and receiving threats.
His wife, Margaret Mwihaki, revealed that Otieno had expressed fears of being followed by three individuals two days before his murder and recalled an attack he had experienced last November, a case that is still pending in court.
Also Read: Raymond Otieno’s Last Words Before Death
Mwihaki disclosed that her husband’s troubles began in June last year during anti-government protests.
According to her, the deceased was arrested for allegedly being part of a group that attacked the home of Molo Member of Parliament (MP) Kuria Kimani but was later released.
“When he came home on Thursday, he told me that he saw three men behind him, who looked suspicious when he was almost at the gate. He warned that ‘from now on, it’s not good’,” Mwihaki recounted, describing Otieno’s fears shortly before his death.
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