Missing Fisherman Brian Odhiambo Found Dead: Mother Blasts KWS

Missing fisherman Brian Odhiambo, whose alleged disappearance has been linked to Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers, was found dead on Monday, February 17.

His mother confirmed the developments while speaking to the press, revealing that his body was discovered at the Lake Nakuru National Park.

Brian Odhiambo’s mother revealed that the KWS officers offered no assistance to the fishermen when they went to intercept the retrieval process conducted by a group of youth and threatened to shoot them when the youth notified them that it was Brian's body they were retrieving.

“The youth found my son’s body floating in the water on Monday. When they wanted to remove his body, a game park boat came with officers from the KWS, but they did not even assist the fishermen,” she revealed.

"When they said that it was Brian, they cocked their guns wanting to shoot the young people. In turn, the youth left with the body."

Odhiambo’s mother also recounted that upon learning that officers had allegedly taken her son’s body, she went to the mortuary to verify if it had arrived this week.

She is now urging the officers who reportedly took his body to return it to her and his family.“Let them return the body so we can bury him and find peace. We won’t protest in the streets. If they give us the body, we won’t go to the streets again. Even if it has decomposed, we will accept it," she demanded.

Adding "I just ask that they return the body they took on the boat and left with. I will accept it as it is."

Odhiambo disappeared on Saturday, January 18, with Nakuru County residents reporting that they saw him being forcibly taken by KWS officers from Lake Nakuru National Park. The KWS officers based in Nakuru were taken to court for allegedly abducting Odhiambo over 20 days ago but were released.

Odhiambo's suspected abduction sparked widespread protests in Nakuru, as locals demanded his release. At one point, the protesters set Lake Nakuru National Park on fire. The crowd lit bonfires and placed stones on the road effectively blocking access to the park which attracts hundreds of tourists daily.

On Thursday, February 6, Justice Julius Nangea, a judge in the Nakuru Law Courts, ruled that there was no sufficient evidence to prove that Odhiambo had been detained by KWS officers.

"The 1st and 2nd respondents have denied having the subject in their custody and there being no sufficient evidence to the contrary, no further orders or directions will be used in relation to the habeas corpus application. Let the prosecution process that is underway take its course," Justice Nangea ruled.

The ruling left Odhiambo's mother, Elizabeth Auma, distraught as she broke down in court and fell to her knees. 

KWS acknowledged arresting a man they claimed was engaged in illegal fishing in the Sewage area of Lake Nakuru National Park but stated that they did not record his name. However, the case took an unexpected turn when a KWS officer assigned to guard the suspect, believed to be Brian Odhiambo, alleged that he had escaped while in custody.

The officer, later identified as Abdulrahman Sudi, detailed Odhiambo’s escape in an affidavit presented in court. He stated that the suspect had requested permission to relieve himself while in custody, and upon granting the request, the man managed to flee.

Sudi claimed he attempted to recapture the suspect, later identified as Brian Odhiambo, but he evaded arrest. The ranger, who serves as a driver, denied allegations that Odhiambo was assaulted or harmed while in KWS custody.

On Friday, February 7, Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino demanded that President William Ruto intervene in the matter, stating "The courts released the officers even as the family, friends and well-wishers plead with the authorities to release the missing man and reunite him with his family."