Suspect in Willis Ayieko’s murder detained for 21 days

By Lameck Barasa

The court has granted police 21 days to detain the main suspect in the murder of Willis Onyango Ayieko.

Before his gruesome murder sometime last week, Ayieko was the Wells Fargo Human Resource Manager.

The suspect, Victor Okoth, appeared before the Siaya Law Courts on Wednesday, before police were granted 21 days to detain him, as investigations continue.

He will be detained at the Railways Police Station, in Kisumu.

Victor Okoth was arrested on Monday night by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) officers.

He was reportedly flushed out of his hideout in Nairobi's Dandora Phase Four area, where he had rented a house using proceeds of the heinous crime.

“The suspect (being held at Muthaiga Police Station) was placed at the scene of crime through forensic analysis, in the forensic-led investigation being conducted by a joint team of DCI's Homicide, CRIB and Operations detectives,” added DCI.

Two other suspects were arrested in Siaya on Wednesday. Police managed to recover a firearm that was reportedly owned by the slain Ayieko.

Ayieko’s body was discovered on October 23, 2024 at a stream in Yala, Siaya County, about a week after his family reported that he was missing.

A police report indicated that the body was decomposed. The body, the report added, had bruises on the face and stomach, indicating that it was dragged on a rough surface.

It was half naked, pointing to the fact that he may have been killed elsewhere before being dumped where it was discovered.

The suspects then drove his car to Sabatia in Vihiga County, kilometres away from where his body was found. He went missing on Friday, October 18 after attending a burial vigil event in Gem, Siaya County.

Chief government pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor has revealed the cause of death of Willis Onyango Ayieko.

Until his gruesome murder last week, Ayieko was the Human Resource Manager at Wells Fargo.

Speaking after conducting an autopsy at the Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi on Tuesday, Dr Johansen Oduor said Ayieko died from bleeding to the brain caused by head injuries.

“There was bleeding on the brain. Other than that, there were bruises on the wrists caused by some cuffs found on him. There were also missing tissues on the mouth, ear and cheek,” said Dr Oduor.

“The missing tissues were as a result of animal predation at the site where the body was found.”