For nine long months, the family of Brian Odhiambo has endured pain, uncertainty, and a growing sense of injustice. The young fisherman from Nakuru vanished in January while in the custody of Kenya Wildlife Service officers, and since then, his disappearance has remained one of the most troubling mysteries in the region.
Now, with new intelligence suggesting that he may have been buried inside Lake Nakuru National Park, his family is demanding immediate action, accusing KWS officials of deliberately delaying a court-ordered search for his remains.
The matter has reached a critical point after detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations moved to court, seeking permission to search for possible grave sites within the park.
Their move followed credible information indicating that Odhiambo’s body could have been secretly buried within the park’s precincts. The court, presided over by Nakuru Senior Principal Magistrate Cynthia Muhoro, granted the order, allowing DCI detectives to carry out a detailed search and, if necessary, conduct exhumations under the supervision of the Chief Government Pathologist and homicide experts.
However, the process has not been smooth. The family’s lawyer, Abuya Mogendi, has expressed concern over what he described as deliberate delays by KWS officials in executing the order. He noted that every passing day risks the loss of crucial evidence and could allow those involved to interfere with the investigation.
According to Mogendi, the family is not seeking confrontation but justice and closure after months of unanswered questions.
On Wednesday, homicide detectives visited Lake Nakuru National Park and marked out a section near the main entry point believed to hold possible graves. The site, according to preliminary findings, might be where Odhiambo was buried after his disappearance.
The family’s legal team compared the obstruction they are facing to what was seen in the Shakahola massacre investigations, suggesting a worrying pattern of resistance from authorities.
Mogendi insisted that despite the slow pace of justice, the family remains determined to see the truth come to light, emphasizing that the DCI has ninety days to present progress before the case is mentioned in court again.
Six KWS officers Francis Wachira, Abdulrahman Ali Sudi, Isaac Ochieng, Evans Kimayo, Michael Wabukala, and Alex Lorogoi have been charged in relation to Odhiambo’s disappearance.
They are accused of abduction with intent to confine, charges they all denied when they appeared in court in May.
So far, thirteen witnesses have testified, and the lead investigating officer is expected to testify when the hearing resumes on November 10.
Human rights activist Hussein Khalid, representing the group Vocal Africa, condemned the incident, saying that Odhiambo lost his life because certain officers valued wildlife more than human life. His statement captured the frustration of many who believe the case reflects a deeper problem within the system meant to protect both people and nature.
Lake Nakuru National Park spans 188 square kilometres, and investigators believe that the upcoming search will be crucial in determining the next steps.
For Odhiambo’s family, each day that passes without action deepens their pain, but their resolve remains firm. They continue to hope that the search will finally reveal the truth about what happened to their loved one and bring closure to a story that has left Nakuru and the nation watching closely.
