Family of slain activist Richard Otieno alleges past threats, demands justice

His wife, Margaret Mwihaki, revealed that Otieno had expressed fears of being followed by three individuals last Thursday and recalled an attack last November by people he believed were linked to a local politician. 

That matter is still pending in court. Meanwhile, homicide detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Headquarters in Nairobi have taken over the probe into Otieno's brutal killing.

Margaret Mwihaki, now grieving the loss of her husband, recounted the tragic events of Saturday night in her first media interview. Speaking through tears, Mwihaki described their final interaction.

"Alinipigia simu akaniambia, 'Mama nataka kukuja nifungulie gate.' Immediately nikakuja kufungua gate. Nikifika nikapata iko open, so I just went back to the house. Kufika bedroom nikaskia somebody screaming, tukapata ni Richard. He was lying on the floor na alikuwa na deep cuts kwa kichwa," she recounted. 

Unfortunately, Otieno succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

Mwihaki disclosed that her husband’s troubles began in June last year during anti-government protests. He was arrested for allegedly being part of a group that attacked the home of Molo MP Kuria Kimani but was later released. 

In November, he was assaulted by individuals he claimed were linked to a local politician.

"On Thursday venye alikuja nyumbani, aliniambia, 'On my way home kuna watu aliwaona akiwa almost kwa gate, watatu wakiwa nyuma yake, na walikuwa wanakaa suspicious.' Akasema, 'From now on, si kuzuri,'" Mwihaki recounted, describing Otieno's fears shortly before his death.

The family lawyer, Roselinda Wamaitha, confirmed that Otieno had been receiving death threats. "My late client has been receiving threats, and some screenshots are out in the public with specific names of individuals who had threatened him," Wamaitha stated.

Otieno’s sister, Roseline Atieno, expressed the family’s anguish and called for justice. "Naomba ni justice kwa Richy. 

Not because he is my brother. He is gone, and gone forever. Tumeumia, na tunaomba justice so that kijana mwingine asipatane na ile ilimpata."

The family has accused the police of being slow to investigate the circumstances of Otieno's death. Responding to the concerns, homicide detectives from the DCI Headquarters have taken over the case from local officers and are working to identify the attackers.

In a dramatic turn of events on Sunday, residents forcibly transferred Otieno’s body from Elburgon Nyayo Hospital to Kericho Level 5 Hospital mortuary, where it currently remains as investigations continue.

Richard Otieno’s murder has sent shockwaves through his community and raised questions about the safety of activists in the country, with many now looking to the DCI to deliver justice.