Police Shoot Dead Willis Ayieko Murder Suspect Who Drew Gun At Officers
The suspect was revealed to be hiding in a hotel near Kisumu Polytechnic where he checked in after escaping from Siaya where he was involved in a police shootout.
Marvin Chege 
A suspect linked to the murder of Willis Onyango Ayieko, a senior Human Resource (HR) Manager at a security company was on Thursday, October 31 shot dead by police in Kisumu after he was found at a guest house within the lakeside city.
According to Nyanza Regional Police Commander Patrick Tito, the suspect had drawn a pistol to fire at the officers, only for the officers to open fire at him.
The suspect was revealed to be hiding in a hotel near Kisumu Polytechnic where he checked in after escaping from Siaya where he was involved in a police shootout.
"We are focused on restoring order and security. Criminals cannot roam freely, threatening innocent lives. We will continue to pursue any suspects until justice is served.
"Upon confrontation, the suspect attempted to open fire on our officers, forcing them to respond with necessary force. This was a dangerous criminal on the run, and our team acted to ensure public safety," Tito said.
Collage of items recovered from suspects linked to Willis Ayieko's murder in Siaya. /DCI
The suspect fled to Kisumu following a shootout with police in Gem Wagai, Siaya County. Police believed that the suspect was part of a carjacking ring whose two members were arrested on Thursday when police thwarted a planned highway robbery and recovered Ayieko's stolen pistol.
A statement by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Wednesday, October 30 revealed that the pistol had been robbed from him on the night he was murdered.
The recovery was made following a tip-off from members of the public, reporting that two individuals, one male and one female, were seen with a gun in a Toyota Axio at Wagai Trading Centre.
Responding, officers from Wagai Police Station flagged down the suspect’s vehicle, but the male driver defied the orders and instead opened fire on the police while speeding off towards Luanda.
"This prompted a hot chase that ended at Adder Farm within the Kagilo area, where the vehicle lost control and rolled over on the left side of the road. Unfortunately, the driver managed to escape, leaving behind the female passenger, who was injured and unconscious," stated DCI in part.
"Upon searching the vehicle, police recovered a pistol loaded with 11 rounds of ammunition, which was identified as the firearm robbed from Mr Ayieko."
The woman was taken to a hospital in Yala, but sadly, she succumbed to her injuries hours later. Meanwhile, a heightened pursuit of the fleeing suspect led Gem Yala detectives to his rented house at Sagam Trading Centre within Kanyibwop village, where the following items were found and confiscated;
- Jungle green sweater & military pair of shorts
- two pairs of desert storm jungle boots
- two TV sets (40" and 32")
- HP Laptop
- Rolex watch among others.
A woman found in the house was also arrested. "Investigations into the murder are ongoing. Detectives are meticulously examining all evidence, and forensic teams are conducting thorough analyses to uncover new leads," added the DCI.
So far, three suspects have been arrested in connection to the murder of Ayieko, among them Victor Okoth Ouma who was arrested in Nairobi’s Dandora estate and presented at the Siaya Law Courts on Wednesday.
Investigators were granted 21 days to detain the suspect as part of their probe. Police said Ouma was placed at the crime scene through forensic analysis.
Ayieko’s body was found dumped near a stream in the Nyamninia sub-location within Gem Yala, Siaya County on October 24, 2024, having gone missing on Friday, October 18, 2024, after attending a burial in the North Gem location.
