The family of slain activist Richard Otieno alias “Molo Prezident” have broken their silence following the brutal murder of the activist on Saturday, January 18.
Otieno’s family while speaking in a media interview on Monday, January 20, alleged that the deceased was a marked man due to his vocal criticism of the government and local leadership.
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 last November. That matter is still pending in court.
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.
In November, he was reportedly assaulted by individuals he claimed were linked to a local politician.
“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.
Wife reveals last moments before Richard Otieno was attacked
The deceased’s wife further recounted the tragic events of Saturday night and revealed her husband’s last moments.
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According to her, Otieno had called her just moments before he was brutally attacked.
Richard unfortunately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
On her part, the family lawyer Roselinda Wamaitha confirmed that Otieno had been receiving death threats.
“My late client has been receiving threats, and some screenshots are out in the public with specific names of individuals who had threatened him,” Wamaitha stated.
Otieno’s family has accused the police of being slow to investigate the circumstances of their kin’s death.
Demand for justice
Responding to the concerns, homicide detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Headquarters have taken over the case from local officers and are working to identify the attackers behind Otieno’s brutal killing.
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Richard Otieno’s murder has sent shockwaves among members of his community and raised questions about the safety of activists in the country, with many now calling upon the DCI to deliver justice.
Meanwhile, the body of the slain political activist was taken to the Kericho County Referral Hospital morgue after it was recovered from a thicket near the Molo River in Turi on Sunday night.
Protesting residents earlier in the day stormed the Elburgon morgue where the body was initially preserved after being found at the gate of Elburgon police station.
The irate mob forcefully took the body and headed towards Molo in protest while condemning the mysterious murder.
The crowd further barricaded the Molo-Elburgon-Nakuru Road with stones and bonfires as they marched towards the home of MP Kuria Kimani, but police barricaded the road towards the MP’s home.
Molo sub-county Police Commander Timon Odingo on Monday told journalists that the body was found with the help of sniffer dogs.
He said the officers probing the matter ferried it to the neighboring Kericho County to impede any effort to access it by the public.
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