Intrigues, mystery behind Careen Chepchumba's death as Former TV anchor Louis Otieno makes shocking revelations

The ghost of Careen Chepchumba who was found dead on February 14, 2012 at an apartment in Kilimani, has not found rest.

Former TV anchor Louis Otieno, was initially questioned by police over her death, but later released. Otieno made stunning revelations about Careen and her father Hosea Kili during the ongoing inquest.

Otieno, who has been ailing for a while, told the inquest that the deceased was a close friend, and not a lover, and that she had confided in him that she had been sexually abused by her father, Kili.

“She told me one evening she had something to share with me. When I met her that evening she narrated to me that she was a victim of abuse by her relatives, particularly her father, whom I later realised wasn’t her biological father,” Otieno testified. He narrated how on one occasion, he allegedly stood at his door to bar Chepchumba’s father from budging in when she sought refuge in his house to escape being assaulted

But Chepchumba’s father told the inquest that Otieno, a father of two, was not only Chepchumba’s lover, but that he pushed her into debt because she borrowed from family and friends to pay for his ‘lavish’ lifestyle.

According to Kili, his daughter borrowed Sh3 million from friends and family to finance the flashy lifestyle of the former television personality and that on one occasion, she stole Sh600,000 from his house, which she gave to Otieno.

“I learnt that Careen was stealing my money. When I asked her, she admitted that she stole to pay Otieno’s house rent, his upkeep and hospital bills,” he claimed.

Chepchumba’s uncle, Edward Bitok, claimed that before her death, Chepchumba expressed disappointment with Otieno and wanted to file extortion charges against him with the police with a view of restraining him from visiting her house. Bitok said Chepchumba’s father convened an emergency meeting on February 12, 2012 at his home after he realised his daughter had borrowed heavily from friends and relatives.

Otieno who has been adversely mentioned in the probe, told Senior Principal Magistrate Charles Ondieki at the Kibera Law Courts that police investigations had absolved him of blame because he was in Magadi at the time of her death. He also denied receiving money from Chepchumba for fees, rent and medical bills, saying he was gainfully employed as a consultant and had medical insurance.

At the height of his career, the TV personality, famed for his bare-knuckled TV interviews lived large and drove posh cars, wore designer suits and lived in a swanky apartment.

So, how did Careen Chepchumba die? Her father paints a picture of an indebted celebrity using his charms to extort cash from his smitten daughter. Otieno, on the other hand claims he was not her lover, but a friend and protector, who offered a helpless girl refuge from physical and sexual abuse sexually meted by her stepfather.

The mystery behind Chepchumab’s death will hopefully be unravelled by this inquest...or maybe not.