DNA test done on the remains of a man who disappeared without trace last year August 7, has revealed that he was one of the many bodies that were unearthed in River Yala, in the border of Vihiga and Kisumu Counties.

Erick Otieno Omeno was reported under OB number 3/13/08/2021 at Yala police station. He was reported to have left Yala for Kisumu in August 6, 2021 at 10:30am. He was accompanied by his friend George Abong’o and boarded a Matatu going to Kisumu City.

Picture of Erick Omeno, whose remains were found 5 months later in River Yala. The body was dismembered. (Photo:Courtesy)

The father of three, has two sons Jeckyll Odhiambo (Form 2) in Barding High School in Siaya County and Brian Omeno (Class 8) is married to Nancy Onyango, a business woman in Gikomba market, Nairobi County.

“He was picked by unknown persons together with George Abong’o then later on, their phones went unanswered,” said Ronny Onyango, his brother in-law. “The DNA test done has matched 99.9 % and there are no doubts he is the one. His brother as well as my sister has seen and verified the body is him,” noted Ronny.

The family is now preparing for the burial of their loved one after his son who is sitting for Kenya Certificate Primary Education (KCPE) has finalized his exams.

Omeno was an architect, according to his wife’s narration. She said her husband has been working in Nairobi, but in March, 2021, he got some construction work in Kisumu. This prompted him to operate from their rural home in Yala.

“He has been working in Kisumu from March operating from home. So on the fateful day of his disappearance, was his off day. Despite the off, his colleague George Abong’o asked him that they go to work. He put pressure on him,” recalls the wife. At the insistence of his friend, he obliged to go to work in Kisumu.

“His mother was fond of him in the evening since he was operating from home. She tried to call him on phone at 7.00 pm in the evening to no avail, for two days she could not trace him, so she decided to inform us in Nairobi,” Nancy narrated. His mother had reported at Yala police station. The investigating officer who was trying to track his phone told them to wait longer since there was a technical hitch with the computer.

The family tracked his phone to Kitale and Bungoma. A Criminal Investigating Officer in Kitale told them that the late Omeno’s phone was switched off at Yala. They panicked the more.

The wife visited Kakamega, Bungoma, Mumias, as his inlaw visited Busia, Bumala and Bondo.  One day, they went to Akala forest, towards Bondo town, on a tip that a man had been found dead in a forest, but it was not their kin.

Nancy Onyango does fish business in Gikomba market. She explaiend, “We have been married for a long time. Though Omeno was self-employed, there is no time he could disappear for more than a day or two without being reached on phone.”

Since his polygamous father died, there was a land dispute in their homestead. Omeno was son of the second wife. “The first family had power over the second family. The last born of the first wife has grabbed built on my husband’s land. The case is in court. We are married women, our in-laws can shed more light over the land issue,” Nancy said. Though there was no threat reported.

When 14 bodies were found in Tana river, she also went to City Mortuary to check out. He was not there. She has been struggling with school fees for the children with Erick disappearing.

Yala bodies

When floating bodies were found in River Yala, the family of Erick Omeno visited Yala Morgue. His brother who saw the bodies identified him, though their mother would not accept the disfigured body.

Human rights and Civil Society bodies visited Yala River, where over 30 bodies were recovered. Led by Hussein Khalid of HAKI Africa, Transparency International requested the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji to investigate rising cases of dead bodies being dumped in river Yala.

Locals say the suspected operation of dumping bodies is done at night between 1 am and 5 am wrapped in paper bags.  Hussein held that locals informed them of two vehicles that were seen in diverse instances stopping at the local area’s river bridge.

The government pathologist Johansen Oduor took the forensic examination to match the DNA samples of the family members and the remains that was in the mortuary.

Omeno’s body has been matched 99.9% with his kin. The family is planning burial, though the Director of Public Prosecution is yet to release any report concerning the bodies.

By Elizabeth Angira

Two police officers have been arraigned in Kisii law court over murder charges of a suspect which occurred at Motonto Police post in 2015.

The two accused persons Tom Mugunde and Ekiru Areman appeared before the court Deputy Registrar Dorcas Onam Mac’ander.

The two accused officers were arrested following an inquest inquiry over the death of a 45-year-old Francis Mainyura while occurred while he was under police custody at Motonto Police post.

In 2018, an inquest case was opened and the file was forwarded to the Chief Magistrate at the Kisii Law Courts. The court ruled the three officers Who were linked to the death of the suspect to be arrested and charged with murder charges.

The Deputy registrar ordered for mental assessment for the two suspects before facing the said charges.

“Meanwhile the two will be detained at Gesonso police station as they wait for directions from the court,” She noted.

The police officers will be taken to Homa bay Law court on the 17th of this month for a plea.

The third officer is yet to be arrested on the grounds that he is off duty and therefore he has not reported to the Sub-County criminal investigation office.

By Elizabeth Angira

A 40-year-old man was arraigned in Kisii law court for killing his wife at Bosike village, Bomariba sub-location, Kisii South Sub-county.

Lucas Bosire the accused person appeared before senior resident magistrate Paul Mutai for the murder charges.

Bosire is suspected to have killed his pregnant wife Everline Kerubo while she was taking a shower at their home using a blunt object.

According to the police report the deceased Kerubo who was seven months pregnant was hit on the head and died on the spot while taking a shower on Monday this week at 9:00 pm.

The accused person Bosire was arrested by the villagers who wanted to lynch him, he was escorted to the Igonga Police post and later transferred to the Gesonso police station.

Investigation Officer at Gesonso police station Victor Maloba made an application for the court to hold the suspect in the police cells as he conducts an investigation and allow time for postmortem.

The Resident magistrate granted him 14 days application to remand the suspect at Gesonso police station as the investigation continues.

“Considering the application, the allegations are serious and involving murder, your security won’t be granted and that of the witnesses if you are released on bond,” said the Magistrate.

The case will come up in court for plea and directions on 27th January 2022.