Louis Otieno sneaked into Careen’s apartment often, inquest told

Former television anchor Louis Otieno used to sneak into the apartment of Careen Chepchumba, the Kenya Power employee who was found murdered in her house four years ago, an inquest heard on Tuesday.

Paul Ng’ang’a, a close friend of Ms Chepchumba’s family told the inquest that Mr Otieno had stressed Ms Chepchumba and she had resolved to terminate their friendship. He testified that she was actually in a relationship with Louis.

“She had come to borrow money when she opened up to me on what she was going through. She informed me that she was in relationship with one Louis Otieno, a famous person,” Mr Ng’ang’a said.

Mr Ng’ang’a, a business consultant, said the affair had strained Ms Chepchumba’s relationship with her parents.

“She was killed a day after a meeting to get her out of debt. The meeting resolved that Careen should return to her parent’s house and sell her household items to pay some of the debts. She also requested to be assisted to end her relationship with Louis,” he said.

Ms Chepchumba’s father, Hosea Kili, had earlier told the inquest that his daughter borrowed heavily to finance Mr Otieno’s lavish lifestyle.

According to Mr Ng’ang’a, Ms Chepchumba once sought help from him saying Mr Otieno was stressing her with demands for cash.

“She told me Mr Otieno would sneak into her apartment after bribing guards.

According to Mr Ng’ang’a she had lied to him that she required money to go for treatment in South Africa.

“Her father was concerned about his daughter’s relationship with Mr Otieno. He asked me once if I knew a young man he could introduce to her so as to get her mind off Louis,” Mr Ng’ang’a said.

Edward Bitok, an uncle of Ms Chepchumba, testified that she borrowed Sh800,000 from him saying she had a printing business to finance that never was.

He said that she had asked him to talk to her parents in accepting her relationship with Mr Otieno.

“I told her that I would consider that if the man was in her age bracket. She said that the man had a dark past,” said Mr Bitok.

He told her that her parents had reason to oppose the relationship.

Mr Bitok, who attended the meeting to bail out Ms Chepchumba, told the court that she had borrowed more than Sh3 million to pay Louis Otieno’s medical bill, house rent and upkeep.

Mr Bitok, a banker, said the meeting resolved assist her to pay debts on condition she returns to her parents’ house. She was also to sell her household items to settle some debts.

“She said she was under pressure to settle some other debts she did not disclose. She disclosed she paid school fees for Mr Otieno’s kids. That Louis was annoyed she could not pay school fees for his son who was set to join form one,” he said.

Mr Bitok, a banker, said the meeting resolved assist her to pay debts on condition she returns to her parents’ house. She was also to sell her household items to settle some debts.

She expressed disappointment that she was used by Louis Otieno and was to file an extortion claim with the police and get a restraining order for Louis not to visit or call her.

Her father was concerned of her daughter’s relationship with Louis that one day he asked me if he knew of a young man to introduce to her so as to get her mind out of Louis,” Mr Ng’ang’a said.