Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen has broken his silence on the disappearance of fisherman Brian Odhiambo, who went missing after his alleged detention by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers at Lake Nakuru National Park.
On Wednesday, March 19, CS Murkomen was compelled to address the issue after Odhiambo’s mother interrupted his speech while he was addressing residents in Nakuru West during the launch of the national mobile registration outreach programme.
In a video seen by The Kenya Times, the CS was speaking to residents in the Shabab settlement when Odhiambo’s mother, Elizabeth Auma, stormed the podium.
A security officer attempted to block Auma from reaching him, but amid shouts from the crowd, Murkomen intervened and instructed the officer to allow her through.
“Just come,” Murkomen can be heard saying before assisting Odhiambo’s mother onto the podium.
Murkomen speaks to Brian Odhiambo’s mother
Auma then whispered something into the CS’s ear as the crowd continued shouting.
Following the brief exchange, Murkomen directed her to take a seat at the VIP dais, where the County Commissioner received her.
“I will address the matter right now. Sorry, Mama (Auma),” he assured her.
Also Read: Brian Odhiambo: Twist as Source Alleges Discovery of Secret Grave in Lake Nakuru
CS Murkomen promised to ensure that Elizabeth gets justice, adding that an investigation into her son’s disappearance will be executed.
He further said that KWS officers at Lake Nakuru National Park will be held accountable for the disappearance of the fisherman.
“I want to tell her that I stand in solidarity with her, to do whatever is necessary to hold those KWS officers accountable for taking her son. We will hold them accountable until we are told where Brian is because we can’t allow this,” he said.
31-year-old Odhiambo disappeared on January 18, 2025, under circumstances that security officers at the park cannot explain.
His family insists he was among those arrested by KWS officers that day, yet no records of his detention exist.
Since then, his whereabouts have remained unknown, pushing his loved ones into a desperate quest for answers.
Search for the body of Brian Odhiambo at Lake Nakuru Park
On Monday afternoon, a convoy of police officers led by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations detectives, human rights activists, and journalists alongside Odhiambo’s grieving family, were finally granted restricted access to the park.
The reluctant permission came after an initial denial on Thursday last week by KWS, who barred investigators and family from entering the park.
The group which was under heavy scrutiny entered the park through an informer who claimed to have insider knowledge from KWS officers who allegedly disclosed the location where several bodies had been dumped.
Notably, the informer had his face hidden beneath a veil, revealing only his anxious eyes.
Crime scene investigators sprang into action, capturing photographs and collecting soil samples after excavation at one of the site where the informer claimed the bodies had been buried.
Also Read: Brian Odhiambo’s Wife, Mother and Brother Arrested Outside Lake Nakuru
However, no human remains were found after some digging.
The informer then guided the team to an acacia tree about 50 meters from where the vehicles were parked where nine shallow holes lay scattered, six of them freshly dug.
“This is where Brian’s body was,” the informer declared, pointing at one of the fresh mounds. But once again, no body was found despite extensive forensic work.
Mother speaks
Frustration mounted as Brian’s mother broke down in tears. “I am not satisfied at all. These sites looked disturbed, and I believe they moved the bodies. But what is hidden will be revealed. If they took my son’s body from here and buried it elsewhere, we will find him,” she vowed.
Nakuru East DCIO Samuel Ngeiywa informed the search party that the team had taken soil samples for forensic analysis.
He further turned to a senior KWS officer for clarification on the mysterious holes.
“I need a report on whether these holes were dug by humans, wild animals, or even herbalists searching for medicinal plants. Personally, I am not an expert in that area. We have documented today’s findings, and a representative from each team present will sign the inventory,” Ngeiywa stated.
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