Autopsy Reveals Cause Of Death Of Willis Ayieko

The results were released just hours after detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Monday night, October 28 arrested a suspect in a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the murder of the HR boss.

Autopsy Reveals Cause Of Death Of Willis Ayieko
The late Human Resource Manager Willis Ayieko. /CAPITAL GROUP

Government pathologist Johansen Oduor has revealed that Willis Onyango Ayieko, a senior Human Resource (HR) Manager at a security company, died of head injuries.

This followed a post-mortem conducted on the late Ayieko which sought to ascertain what exactly led to his death, with the results indicating a possibility of foul play in the incident.

Ayieko’s family and friends gathered at the Lee Funeral Home on Tuesday, October 29 to wait for his autopsy to be conducted. They were accompanied by Siaya Governor James Orengo and Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi.

Siaya Governor James Orengo among those at Lee Funeral Home on October 29, 2024. /CYPRIAN NYAKUNDI

The results were released just hours after detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Monday night, October 28 arrested a suspect in a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the murder of the HR boss.

DCI revealed in a statement on Tuesday, October 29 that the suspect identified as Victor Ouma Okoth was flushed out of his hideout in Nairobi's Dandora Phase IV, where he had rented a house using proceeds of the heinous crime.

"The suspect (being held at Muthaiga Police Station) was placed at the scene of crime through forensic analysis, in the forensic-led investigation being conducted by a joint team of DCI's Homicide, CRIB and Operations detectives," stated DCI in part.

The investigation is ongoing with the team analyzing crucial leads to uncover and arrest other accomplices.

Ayieko's body was identified after it was found handcuffed and abandoned near a stream in the Nyamninia sub-location within Gem, Siaya County. He had reportedly gone missing on Friday, October 18, 2024, after attending a burial in the North Gem location.

The deceased's colleagues and family revealed that after attending the burial, he set out for his home in Kakamega, with family members reporting that he was expected to attend a family event the following day but never arrived.

Concern grew when they realized he was out of contact for an extended period. After police launched investigations, Ayieko’s vehicle, an orange double-cabin Ford pick-up truck, would later be found abandoned in Sabatia, Vihiga County near a petrol station. He was however missing.

Siaya Sub-County Police Commander Charles Wafula confirmed the grim discovery. “We received a call from members of the public who alerted us to a body near a stream in Yala. Upon arrival, we found the deceased handcuffed, which immediately raised suspicions of a criminal act. Investigations are underway to establish the circumstances of his death,” Wafula said.

Wafula also revealed that police were analyzing CCTV footage from the petrol station which showed two men parking the vehicle before fleeing the scene. "We are analyzing the footage and working with our colleagues in Vihiga to identify the suspects,” Wafula added.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Ayieko was among a team attached to a local supermarket that was probing into the Ksh94 million theft from one of its branches. The Nation reported that it received communication from Ayieko’s close friends, colleagues, and family members that he was part of the team conducting a separate probe into the heist.

In November 2023, it was reported that a team of staffers from the security company disappeared with Ksh94 million while in transit.

On November 8, 2023, the supermarket distanced itself from any blame about the heist noting that the money got lost while in custody of the security firm.

DCI detectives on bikes during a rigorous mobile tactical operations training offered to the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit's - Emergency Response Team (ERT) on April 21, 2023. /DCI