Pallbearers carry the casket bearing the body of Richard Haga Otieno during his requiem mass at St Peter's Catholic Church in Elburgon, Nakuru County on February 05, 2025.
Slain Molo activist Richard Otieno, popularly known as 'Molo President', will be laid to rest on Friday, even as detectives burn the midnight oil to arrest the mastermind of the cold-blooded murder.
According to Otieno's family, he will be buried at his parents’ home in Siaya County.
Otieno, a youth leader and a fierce critic of the government and Molo Member of Parliament Kuria Kimani, was hacked to death on January 18, a few metres from Elburgon Police Station.
On Wednesday, calls for justice dominated a requiem mass for Otieno at the St Peter's Catholic Church in Elburgon, as leaders called for thorough investigations to arrest the mastermind of the gruesome murder of the 33-year-old activist.
Although detectives from the Homicide Department of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have arrested five suspects linked to the murder, leaders present demanded the mastermind of the murder plot.
"The DCI has arrested five people linked to the gruesome murder, but we are demanding that they also arrest the mastermind who planned the murder. These may have been just hitmen sent to kill Otieno. We want the person who sent them to be arrested and prosecuted," said Dr Peter Mbae, a local leader.
Janet Mkenya, a youth leader, also demanded the arrest of more suspects linked to the murder.
"We have seen five suspects have been arrested ...but hao ni mbwa, the person who sent them must be arrested and prosecuted. The person who plotted and facilitated the killing to be arrested as well. The person who sent hitmen to kill Otieno is still walking free," said Mkenya.
Mkenya asked Nakuru MPs to take the matter to Parliament to push for justice. Former President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also sent their messages of condolences to the slain activist's family.
"Otieno was a young visionary and dependable leader whose future was cut short. I condole with the family and call for speedy investigations to arrest and prosecute his killers including the mastermind," read part of a condolence message from former President Uhuru Kenyatta that was delivered by lawyer Dan Mwangi.
Mr Gachagua also through a message read by Dr Peter Mbae said;
"Richard Otieno had a good heart of helping those in need, especially the children from humble backgrounds. He was vocal when fighting for the rights of ordinary people. I condemn the murder and call for thorough investigations to arrest the real killers of the activist."
As pressure mounted for thorough investigations into the gruesome murder, the Nation has learned that a senior politician is a person of interest in the matter, as investigators seek to unravel the circumstances surrounding the murder.
"We have sought data from Safaricom to track communications. The politician will record a statement next week. We are not leaving any stone unturned. We are also looking into the threats the deceased received before he met his death and the people who were trailing him," revealed a senior detective privy to the investigations.
"In the coming days we may arrest more suspects linked to the murder," added the investigator.
At least seven people including family members have already recorded statements over the murder.
Detectives say they have vital information that may lead to arrests of more suspects and accomplices.
According to an autopsy conducted a week ago by Chief Government Pathologist, Johansen Oduor, at the Kericho Referral Hospital mortuary, Otieno died from severe head injuries caused by a sharp object, likely a panga or an axe.
The autopsy was conducted in the presence of representatives of the family and the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU).
The autopsy further revealed that the body had multiple slash wounds on the back and front areas of the skull, which fractured the skull and led to extensive bleeding in the brain.
After the bizarre murder, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations' Homicide Department and those from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau(CRIB) took over the investigations into the murder.
Otieno was murdered two days after he complained that he was being trailed by three unknown persons and receiving threats.
The five arrested are Geoffrey Mavado, John Ndegwa, Jorim Ngonga, Clinton Simantu, and Peter Mwaniki.
Nakuru Principal Magistrate Kipkurui Kibelion on Monday allowed police to detain the five at the Kaptembwo Police Station pending the completion of investigations.
Detectives believe the five are hitmen who were paid to eliminate Otieno. Geoffrey Mavado, John Ndegwa, and Jorim Ngonga are believed to have been directly involved in the brutal killing.
The other two; Clinton Simantu, alias Muiruri, and Peter Mwaniki, alias Pinchez are bodaboda operators believed to have ferried the hitmen to and from the scene of the crime.
