Autopsy Reveals How Activist Richard Otieno Was Killed
According to the pathologist, either a panga or an axe could have been used in the attack, indicating that the assailants had a clear mission to eliminate him.
Marvin Chege 
The late activist Richard Otieno, alias the 'Molo President,' died from severe head injuries inflicted by a sharp object, according to Government pathologist Johansen Oduor.
Oduor described to journalists on Friday, January 24 the gruesome nature of the murder, with most of the fatal injuries resulting from attacks aimed at the head. According to the pathologist, either a panga or an axe could have been used in the attack, indicating that the assailants had a clear mission to eliminate him.
“The late Richard had several severe injuries. There were multiple slash wounds on the back of the head, which led to the fracture of the skull and extensive bleeding of the brain. There were also some slash wounds on the frontal area of the skull as well as bruising on the face,” Odour stated after a two-hour autopsy.
Oduor also noted that the examination revealed evidence suggesting that Otieno attempted to defend himself during the attack.
Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor at the Malindi Sub-County Hospital Mortuary during the autopsy exercise of victims of the Shakahola massacre on May 1, 2023. /FILE
"We also found more bruises on the arm which looked like he was trying to defend himself. From these findings we can say that the late Richard died as a result of severe head injuries which were caused by a sharp object which could either be a panga or an axe used severally on the head," he added.
He went on to reveal that DNA and toxicology samples had been collected for further analysis to determine if Otieno was drugged before the attack. The samples will also be crucial in cracking down on the assailants responsible for the gruesome murder.
"We've taken some samples for analysis because we know that when two people meet in a violent way there's an exchange in DNA material. We have taken some samples from the body which can help us see whether we can apprehend people who did it. We've also taken samples for toxicology analysis to see if something was given to him to slow him down prior to him meeting the assailants," he further revealed.
Another pathologist, Dr Titus Ngulugu, who represented the family and the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) during the procedure, confirmed the findings, describing them as accurate and thorough.
Speaking on behalf of the family, their lawyer, Rosalinda Wamaitha, expressed satisfaction with the ongoing probe by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), saying justice must be served.
Otieno was hacked to death by unknown assailants on Saturday, January 19. According to his wife, Margaret Mwihaki, Otieno fearfully revealed that he was followed by three individuals last Thursday and recalled an attack in November 2024 by people he believed were linked to a local politician.
"He had called to tell me that he wanted to come so that I open the gate for him. Immediately I went to open the gate, but when I got there, I found it open, so I just went back to the house.
"On reaching the bedroom, I heard somebody screaming, we found out it was Richard. He was lying on the floor with deep cuts on the head," she recounted the tragic events of Saturday night in her first media interview while grieving the loss of her husband.
Unfortunately, Otieno succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. Mwihaki disclosed that her husband’s troubles began in June last year during anti-government protests. He was arrested for allegedly being part of a group that attacked the home of Molo Member of Parliament (MP) Kuria Kimani but was later released.
Wamaitha had confirmed that Otieno had been receiving death threats, with some screenshots out in the public domain with specific names of individuals who had threatened him. Nonetheless, homicide detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Headquarters in Nairobi are working on the case, having taken over from local officers and are working to identify the attackers.
In a dramatic turn of events on Sunday, residents forcibly transferred Otieno’s body from Elburgon Nyayo Hospital to Kericho Level 5 Hospital mortuary, where it currently remains as investigations continue. Richard Otieno’s murder has sent shockwaves through his community and raised questions about the safety of activists in the country, with many now looking to the DCI to deliver justice.
The detectives are planning to question two local politicians and several witnesses as they try to unravel the circumstances surrounding the murder. Kenyans will likely be asked to help the DCI track down the assailants once images of them are available to the public.
