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DPP orders six KWS officers charged with abduction of missing Nakuru fisherman
A portrait of Nakuru fisherman Brian Odhiambo who disappeared on January 18, 2025 after being arrested by KWS officers at Lake Nakuru National Park.
Director of Public Prosecutions(DPP) Renson Igonga has recommended that six Kenya Wildlife Service officers linked to the disappearance of a Nakuru fisherman be charged in court.
The DPP has directed that the six be charged with abduction to confinement, as they were in contact with Brian Odhiambo before he went missing.
The six officers stationed at the Lake Nakuru National Park are Senior Sergeant Francis Wachira Gachoki, rangers Abdulrahman Ali Sudi, Isaac Ochieng, Evans Kimaiyo, Michael Wabukala and Alex Lorogoi.
According to Nakuru East sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer Samuel Ngeiywo, the six have already been arrested ahead of their appearance in court.
"They were arrested on Friday, but were later released on a free bond, pending court appearance on Monday," revealed Mr Ngeiywo.
The DCI boss revealed that they had earlier written to the DPP to consider charging the six with abduction in order to murder, but instead, charges of abduction to confinement were recommended.
In a phone interview, Odhiambo’s wife, Ms Ivy Aoko, said they were informed of the arrest by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations officers.
Ms Odhiambo said that the arrest has rekindled hopes of getting justice.
“I cried when I heard the news of their arrests. We hope the arrest of the officers who were last seen with my husband will help shed light on his whereabouts,” she said.
Ivy Aoko, wife of Brian Odhiambo, a local fisherman who was arrested by Kenya Wildlife Service rangers at his home for illegal fishing in Lake Nakuru, cries in anguish after DCI and KWS failed to produce Odhiambo before a Nakuru court on January 28, 2025.
Nakuru Human Rights Network (Nahurinet) director and the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) representative in Nakuru David Kuria welcomed the arrests.
He said they hope the family will finally get answers on the whereabouts of their kin.
“Since the disappearance of Odhiambo, the family has known no peace. It could have just been done on time, but we are happy. We are expecting to see them in court on Monday,” said Mr Kuria.
The Executive Director of Vocal Africa, Khalid Hussein, called for a speedy court case and determination.
“The arrest is a testimony that if a family remains strong in the quest for justice, even when the wheels of justice in Kenya grind slowly, eventually justice will prevail. We demand a speedy court case and determination of Brian’s whereabouts. We call on all Kenyans who stand with justice to equally appear and stand with the family of Odhiambo,” said Khalid.
On March 19, while visiting Nakuru, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen promised that the government would help find Mr Odhiambo.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen (right) Ms Elizabeth Auma, mother of missing Nakuru fisherman Brian Odhiambo.
Mr Murkomen also vowed that Kenya Wildlife Service officers involved would be held responsible of the fisherman's disappearance.
Murkomen was forced to speak on the matter after Odhiambo's mother, Elizabeth Auma, interrupted his speech in Nakuru.
"As a government, we will not allow a situation where a Kenyan goes missing without being accounted for. We are here to ensure lives are protected," stated Murkomen.
On March 13, Nakuru Principal Magistrate Vincent Adet ordered the DCI and KWS to expand their investigations and forward the file to the DPP for further action, within 30 days, which lapsed on April 13.
Missing for four months
Odhiambo,33, has been missing since January 18, 2025, when he was reportedly arrested by the KWS officers at the Lake Nakuru National Park.
According to his family, he was arrested for allegedly trespassing into the protected park
The KWS rangers traced him to his residence in Manyani estate, where they arrested him.
His family has been seeking answers about the whereabouts of their son with his disappearance sparking protests in Nakuru.
The family has searched for him broadly, including in mortuaries and hospitals, but he has never been found.
Already, the public outcry over the mysterious disappearance of Odhiambo and another fisherman, Brian Stingo, who disappeared in 2022, has landed at the Senate.
Khalid-led Vocal Africa has petitioned the Senate to form a Special Senate Committee to investigate the disappearance of the two fishermen and atrocities committed against residents by KWS rangers at the Lake Nakuru National Park.
Mr Khalid, accompanied by the families of victims, presented the petition to the Senate.
"On behalf of families whose loved ones have been killed, injured or disappeared under circumstances tied to the Kenya Wildlife Service(KWS) rangers at the Lake Nakuru National Park, we want the Senate to form a special committee to probe the atrocities, "states part of the petition.
"We demand justice for the missing fisherman Brian Odhiambo and others who have fallen victim to the violence by the KWS rangers-many of them young people. We urge the Senate to act swiftly and investigate the matter," further reads the petition.
The petition was received by Senators Okiyah Omtatah(Busia), Dan Maanzo(Makueni) and Faki Mohamed (Mombasa).
According to VOCAL Africa, despite persistent outcry of human rights violations-including unlawful killings, enforced disappearances and systematic torture,no credible investigations have been conducted.
"State authorities have turned a blind eye and those responsible have continued to operate without consequences, shielded by the very institutions meant to protect life and dignity," further read the petition.
The human rights body said that affected families have endured a nightmare -forced to relentlessly search for their loved ones, to bury bodies marked with signs of brutal violence and mourn without answers.
Despite repeated pleas from the families and the community, authorities have denied responsibility and failed to provide answers on the whereabouts of the missing fishermen.
Dozens of youth have been injured in confrontations with KWS officers during illegal fishing expeditions.
Those not very lucky have died or sometimes killed by wild animals while escaping security agents dragnets.
Although hope of ever finding the two has been fading every day,the families now hope against hope that they will find them dead or alive.