Teacher’s murder that remains a puzzle to police

By WINSLEY MASESE

The 29-year-old woman gazes into the horizon, the pain of her troubles written all over her face.

She remains pensive as memories of her husband, Walter Opiyo, goes through her mind before she settles down for an interview with CCI.

"We had supper together at our shop on the night he was killed. We were all in a jovial mood but little did I know that I was seeing him for the last time," recalls Evelyn Ayako as her eyes become heavy with tears.

"After having supper in the shop with him on December 28, last year, I went to our house about 300 metres away to prepare our children to go to bed," she remembers.

Opiyo, a teacher at Kanyang’oro Primary School, Nyando District, always assisted at the family shop at Katito market. He was only 32 and a father of two.

As was the tradition, Opiyo was later on that day to join his wife in the house at a round 8 pm. He would instruct their nephew, Vincent Omondi, to close the shop. But on this day, this was never to be.

"Barely an hour after leaving the shop, a neighbour called and told me that there was a drunk man behind our house," she recalls.

She got apprehensive grabbed a torch and headed to the scene. The first thing she saw was a man wearing a red T-shirt similar to the one her husband was wearing on that day.

Strange find

Omondi, his nephew who was at the shop, told her that Opiyo had left a few minutes ago.

"I screamed for help attracting a crowd," she says.

Police officers from Katito Patrol Base, which is about 100 metres away came in and took charge of the situation.

The body was taken to Nyanza Provincial Hospital Mortuary.

The next day police commenced investigations and recorded a statement from her.

"They asked if I knew my husband’s girlfriend but I didn’t know anything about that," she says. It was alleged that Opiyo was engaged in an extra-marital affair with a married woman.

"I did not know the woman they were referring to. Since they had a lead, they should have pursued the case to its conclusion," she laments.

"It is now over five months since my husband was murdered but investigations are still inconclusive," she says.

She regrets that it took such a short time to murder and dump her husband’s body next to his house without anybody noticing.

Results from a postmortem examination established that Opiyo died of internal bleeding after he was hit with a sharp object.

Before he was killed, the attackers stole his money, his voter’s card and his student identification card.

By the time of his death, Opiyo was studying for an undergraduate degree at the University of Nairobi under the school based programme.

"He had been at home for a week since he came from his studies and was relieving me at the shop when he met his death," she says.

Ayako says she is still worried because the motive of the killing has never been known.

"I do not know why they killed him and why it has taken so long for any suspects to be charged in court," she laments.

Helpless widow

She says her husband left her with young children adding that bringing them up is challenging.

Though six suspects were arrested in connection with the murder, all of them were later released for lack of evidence.

Nyando OCPD Mr Patrick Mbarire says six suspects were arrested over the murder but released later due to lack of evidence."There was no evidence to connect them with the murder and consequently they were released. They could not have stayed in police custody for more than 14 days," he says.

Police effort

He says the file is still open waiting for any fresh evidence. The failure to charge any suspect with the murder has left the family asking many questions.

"Who killed the teacher and why? Why did the police fail to find the killers? Is somebody shielding the killers?

The widow says police have never contacted her to inform her of the progress in the case.

Ayako says the only time police called her was at the time she was recording a statement.

The deceased graduated from Meru Teachers’ Training College in 2003 and was employed by the Teachers’ Service Commission the same year.

His voter’s card and student’s ID card were found at the murder scene the following day and are still at Ahero Police Station.

The murder caused hue and cry at Katito market with residents and local teachers accusing the government of failing to provide security in the area.

But an organised demonstration later aborted after the organisers failed to turn up.

But Ayako is optimistic that one day, the truth will be known.

"I only want to know who killed my husband and why?" she says.