Ksh300K & Piece Of Land Reward, Blogger & New Details In Richard Otieno Murder
This is as investigators pursue more suspects in the case, including the financiers of the criminal act.
Marvin Chege 
New details have emerged regarding the murder case of activist Richard Otieno, alias the 'Molo President' with the alleged mastermind of the heinous act identified by police as Peter Oketch, alias DJ I0.
Oketch was captured on CCTV alongside two accomplices, all of whom are now in custody, planning the ambush before fleeing the country to neighbouring Tanzania. This is as investigators pursue more suspects in the case, including the financiers of the criminal act.
Investigations revealed that an unidentified individual had hired the killers for the mission, with Oketch hired for the assassination. He then went on to recruit other suspects including boda boda operators and hawkers to carry out the murder, and they were all promised Ksh300,000 as a reward for completing the hit mission.
Slain Molo activist Richard Otieno. /FILE
At first, each suspect received Ksh3,000, followed by an additional Ksh5,000, bringing the total amount to Ksh8,000 for all six participants. Two of the suspects recruited by Oketch were arrested alongside him in Molo town on February 23.
On top of the cash payment, the assassins were allegedly promised a parcel of land as a reward for the murder.
The investigations also revealed that a blogger was linked to the financiers and played a role in identifying the target, pointing the hired assassins to Otieno.
After the murder, the suspects allegedly fled to Tanzania, where they were harboured by extended family members before returning to Kenya. Upon their arrest, police sought to detain them for 21 days to finalize investigations, track down other suspects, and identify the financiers and beneficiaries who are still at large.
Geolocation data placed the suspects at the same location as Otieno on January 18, the day he was attacked and killed in Elburgon.
The prosecution disclosed that a multi-agency operation is ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects. Police requested 21 days to conduct key procedures, including DNA analysis, identification parades, and statement recording.
With the arrest of the three suspects, along with six others detained earlier, the total number of those in custody now stands at nine.
Earlier, the court had authorized police to detain five suspects, later approving the detention of an additional suspect for further inquiries.
The accused are scheduled to appear before Principal Magistrate Kipkurui Kibellion for plea-taking on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Furthermore, the court has granted police 10 days to finalize investigations and formally file charges.
An autopsy of Otieno's death revealed that the activist died from severe head injuries inflicted by a sharp object.
