Missing fisherman Brian Odhiambo was last seen "unresponsive" in KWS vehicle, court told
New details have emerged in the case of missing fisherman Brian Odhiambo, after a protected witness told a Nakuru court that Odhiambo appeared lifeless when he was bundled into a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Land Cruiser by rangers.
The witness, testifying under the pseudonym John Doe, said he identified Odhiambo lying unresponsive in the vehicle on January 18, 2025, the day he was allegedly arrested by rangers at Lake Nakuru while fishing illegally.
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Doe, who testified virtually from Nakuru GK Prison where he is serving a sentence for illegal fishing, was giving evidence in a case where six KWS rangers are charged with abducting Odhiambo.
He narrated that at around 8:00 am on that day, he was fishing inside Lake Nakuru when rangers appeared, chasing his colleagues.
“I was inside the lake, and I got scared, so I got out of the lake and was surrendered by rangers, who were many and in different attire, and they arrested me,” Doe told Principal Magistrate Kipkurui Kibelion.
According to him, one of his friends was struck with a baton, and eight others were also arrested. They were ferried by boat to Summit, where they were ordered to lie down.
“The rangers were ruthless, and when one lifted his head, he was hit with blows and kicks. I lay down facing the side of the road,” he said.
Shortly after, he said a green KWS Land Cruiser arrived and reversed towards them. Doe testified that he lifted his head and saw a person lying on his stomach, unconscious, inside the vehicle.
“The ranger pushed the man and directed him to move; he did not move or talk back,” Doe said.
He added that one ranger turned the man, checked his pulse, and that was when he recognised him as Odhiambo, who was dressed in black sports shorts with white stripes but had no shirt or shoes.
“The ranger showed signs that Odhiambo was dead, but his in-charge shushed him and directed the driver to drive off. The car drove off to a bush near the lake, and at the same time, I was kicked and ordered to look down. We did not see the vehicle again,” he testified.
Doe said that although the vehicle was meant to carry them, they had to wait for another Land Cruiser, which eventually took nine of them to Bondeni Police Station while one injured fisherman was released.
He told the court that out of fear, they lied to the police that they had not been assaulted, only later seeking treatment at night after complaining of severe pain. He also said police officers asked them about Odhiambo, but they denied seeing him for fear of victimisation.
In court, Doe identified Odhiambo from a picture and picked out five of the six rangers charged with his abduction.
His evidence was corroborated by Alex Maina, a casual labourer who was slashing grass near the lake that morning. Maina, currently held in Nyandarua for illegal fishing, testified that he saw Odhiambo running as rangers chased him.
“The Land Cruiser was stopped, and KWS rangers alighted and chased after Odhiambo. It did not take long since he was exhausted. They started assaulting him,” he told the court.
He said the officers tore Odhiambo’s clothes before carrying him away.
“They took him away and threw him in the cruiser like a sack of potatoes before driving away. They ignored my shouts and pleas,” he testified.
Earlier, another witness, Denis Juma, also serving a sentence for illegal fishing, testified virtually that he saw Odhiambo unconscious in a KWS Land Cruiser before it was driven off into a bush.
“As the driver identified as Sudi reversed the vehicle towards us, I overheard an officer ordering the person inside to sit properly so there would be space for other suspects,” Juma said.
“I lifted my head and saw the warden trying to move the man, but he was unresponsive. Then I heard one officer whisper to another, saying, ‘Huyu amekata’ (this one is dead). The colleague quickly signalled him to keep quiet.”
He said rangers then checked whether any of the fishermen had seen what happened and beat those who lifted their heads.
“One of us was badly beaten and injured on the nose,” Juma said.
According to him, the vehicle carrying Odhiambo was then driven away at high speed into a forested area, never to return.
Another witness, Alex Maina Njenga, also testified that after Odhiambo was undressed, the rangers rubbed stinging nettle leaves on his body.
“After undressing him, the officers rubbed stinging nettle leaves on his body. We pleaded with them to free him, but they refused,” Njenga told the court.
The six KWS rangers are accused of abducting Odhiambo on January 18, 2025, at the Sewage area in Nakuru Town East sub-county.
The case will continue on September 8, when the final witness is expected to testify.
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