Tears in court as suspects in Brian Odhiambo’s disappearance freed

Tears and frustration filled the Nakuru High Court as six Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers accused of abducting fisherman Brian Odhiambo were granted bail, four months after he went missing.

Brian’s mother, Elizabeth Auma, broke down in tears outside the courtroom following the ruling by Principal Magistrate Kipkurui Kibellion, who released the officers after finding no sufficient reason to continue holding them.

The six officers – Francis Gachoki, Alexander Lorogoi, Isaac Odhiambo, Michael Wabukala, Evans Kimaiyo, and Abdulrahman Ali Sudi – had been in custody at Nakuru GK Prisons for seven days.

They were charged with abducting Brian on January 18 this year at Lake Nakuru National Park.

In his ruling, Justice Kibellion said: "The accused persons are prohibited from making contact with the prosecution or witnesses, during the case, they are not allowed to visit the scene of crime."

The decision has left Brian’s family devastated and struggling to understand how the main suspects in the case are now free.

"The ruling makes us wonder if the judicial service is in touch with the reality; it’s almost four months since Brian’s mother saw her son, yet the suspects have been released one week after being in custody," said human rights activist Hussein Khalid.

The family’s lawyer, Kipkoech Ng’etich, said they were disappointed by the court’s move to ignore new evidence that had been presented.

"Tunaipinga kuwa Mama Brian alipeleka kortini affidavit kuwa kuna mtu alitaka kumpa pesa ndio kesi izame. Mahakama imetupilia mbali affidavit na ikatoa uamuzi na tuko na mpango wa kukata rufaa," said Ng’etich.

Translation: "We object that Mama Brian submitted an affidavit to the court stating that someone wanted to give her money so that the case could be dismissed. The court has dismissed the affidavit and issued a decision, and we plan to appeal."

According to the family, the affidavit was meant to show that someone had attempted to interfere with the case by offering a bribe.

They now plan to appeal the ruling.

The six officers were released under strict conditions, but the family believes their freedom could compromise the search for Brian, who has not been seen since the day of the alleged abduction.

The court directed that the case be treated as a priority and scheduled the hearing for May 19.