Tom & Ken Osinde: Story Of Brothers Who Died Two Years Apart

The late former National Treasury official, Tom Mokaya Osinde, who was found dead after going missing on Sunday, June 18, is the brother of the late Ambassador Ken Nyauncho Osinde, who served in Germany between 2010 and 2014.

His demise reported on Thursday, June 29 undoubtedly shocked the country, days after he was reported missing.

However, in a matter of coincidence, Tom's brother also served in the government, in particular, in the office of President William Ruto (then Deputy President) as his Chief of Staff.

Ken Osinde Death

Ken Osinde passed away at the Nairobi Hospital on December 10, 2021, after he was taken ill three days prior. He was admitted to the hospital a day later where he underwent emergency surgery before being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Image of the late Ken Osinde. /FILE

The family sent their appreciation to the entire team at Nairobi Hospital for their speedy response and tireless efforts during the period that Osinde was under their care.

“The funeral arrangements will be announced by the funeral organizing committee in due course,” revealed the family in a statement at the time.

Ruto mourned the late Osinde as a good leader with robust management as well as good problem-solving skills.

“As our Chief of Staff, he was a hardworking, diligent, broad thinker and a master of human resources. We will miss his wise counsel and team spirit.

“My heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the family, colleagues and friends. Rest In Peace my friend, Ken,” he wrote on social media.

According to the eulogy read during his burial thereafter, Osinde complained of stomach pains on December 7 and was rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with extensive internal bleeding due to a rupture of a vein.

Osinde’s wife Judy described their 32 years in marriage as a pleasant journey of marital bliss during which they had five children.

“Ken lived a full life. His love for me, his family, and his people was unmatched. He touched the lives of thousands of people at a professional level and otherwise. He had a way of making everyone feel valued,” said Judy.

Ken drew media headlines on November 26, 2021, when he was barred from addressing the Annual Devolution Conference on behalf of his boss, Ruto, who had been lined up to close the three-day governors' convention. Ruto at the time had political engagements in Nyandarua County.

Osinde was born on August 18, 1962, in Kenya. He held an M.A. degree in Linguistics from the University of Nairobi and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and instructively the M.A. was the first one ever on Sheng.

After teaching at the University of Nairobi, he landed a managerial job at the National Bank of Kenya where he rose to the position of Head of Strategic Planning. In 2010, he was named Kenya’s ambassador to Germany.

In his university days, Osinde was a talented actor and would later star in Kenya’s premiere soap opera Tushauriane. He co-starred with household names such as Dennis Kashero, Paul Onsongo and the late Tony Msalame.

Tom Osinde Death

The late Tom on the other hand studied Economics at the University of Nairobi and transitioned to the Treasury Department after his graduation, where he worked for several years. 

He left the Treasury in 2010 to start his own business and his success saw him acquire a large property in Ngata, Farm, Nakuru.

The late former Treasury official Mokaya Osinde who went missing on Saturday, June 24, 2023. /FILE

Osinde was well-known for his expertise in financial management and was well-respected by his colleagues. He was also a philanthropist who donated generously to various charities and was often described by his family as a kind and generous man who was loved by his family and friends. 

While Ken Osinde's death resulted from natural causes, Tom's death came after he was reported missing, with the events surrounding his demise leading to the case going from a missing person's case to that of murder.

Autopsy On Tom Osinde Murder

On Friday, June 30, an autopsy conducted by Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Odour, who conducted the postmortem at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary, revealed that the late Tom died after suffering injuries to his head inflicted from several blows using a heavy object.

Two suspects have since been arrested in connection with the murder, with the main suspect reported being seen driving the deceased's vehicle days before his body was discovered.

The suspect had admitted to having thrown the body of the former Treasury employee in River Kuja also known as Gucha River.

Nyakeyo Assistant Chief had revealed to the press that the prime suspect had directed detectives to the river on Wednesday, June 28 and pinpointed the exact location where Osinde's body was thrown in from.

Neighbours further revealed that the suspect had fled the village three days ago and had resurfaced days before the murder, forcing them to raise the alarm.

The concerned neighbours had become curious about his intentions and why he was driving Osinde's black Landcruiser. When questioned, the suspect turned a deaf ear, against their expectations, and requested their assistance in washing the car.

"We did not wash the inside of the car. We were told that it had a lot of luggage," one of the neighbours recalled.

The neighbours also startingly recalled that the suspect fled from his home in Kisii after he was implicated in another murder case.