Richard Otieno: How vocal Molo 'president' was brutally silenced

Molo activist Richard Raymond Otieno. [Photo/@KuriaKimaniMP/X] Two weeks ago, Molo activist Richard Otieno delivered what would turn out to be his final speech, accusing the government and Molo MP Kimani Kuria of oppressing the people. He was murdered on Saturday last week. In his speech, Otieno claimed that whenever he criticised the government or Kuria, individuals he believed to be detectives or police officers visited him in an attempt to silence him. "I am the person you saw on television being arrested and detained during the Gen Z protest in June 2024," Otieno said during a speech at a funeral. He explained that he had been accused of raiding Kuria's home on June 27, 2024, during which the house was set on fire and property of unknown value stolen. "I was told that I was a chicken thief. Do I look like a chicken thief?" he asked. "I was fighting for the lives of the Gen Zs and trying to find a way for them and for Kenya to move forward," he added. Otieno insisted that he would not stop speaking out and vowed to continue condemning wrongdoing. He further criticised Kuria for pushing the Finance Bill 2024 without the approval of his constituents. "I told the MP that we did not send him to pass the bill, which contained the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). Our parents are dying in hospital because of SHIF and SHA (Social Health Authority). The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) was better," he declared. Additionally, Otieno accused Kuria of living a lavish lifestyle while his people, particularly the youth, were jobless. Otieno said they had a plan to vote out the betrayers of Molo's people, noting that they were not short of capable leaders. "I do not want to be a leader, but we have people who can lead. If those in leadership are tired and unable to work, we will chase them away. We will chase away all the betrayers," he stated. Kuria was also criticised for allegedly bribing young people with Sh200 whenever he flew home from Nairobi. "We are above Sh200 and we do not want it. Give the youth jobs," Otieno said. Otieno predicted that his speech would bring him trouble, noting that the same had happened the previous year when he criticised the government publicly. On Thursday of the same week, his wife, Margaret Mwihaki, told The Nairobian that her husband had confided in her that he believed people were after him. "He said he was being trailed by three individuals whom he suspected had ill intentions. He said he did not feel safe at all. He was a marked man," she said. Gen Z protests The following Saturday, Otieno was trailed and struck on the head with an axe. He succumbed to his injuries in hospital. Mwihaki explained that Otieno was attacked as soon as he called her to open the gate. She heard screams and found him lying unconscious when she went to check. "I went to open the gate, but I found it already opened and decided to return to the house. I was in the bedroom when I heard the screams," she said. Sources close to Otieno said he was last seen early on Saturday evening when he went to watch a football match. Another source claimed he was attacked after alighting from a boda boda. Mwihaki said Otieno's troubles began in June last year when he became vocal during the Gen Z protests. "He was arrested several times, but fortunately, the family lawyer helped rescue him from the cells. In November, he was attacked by individuals believed to be linked to a local politician and was hospitalised," she said. According to lawyer Roselinda Wamaitha, a case she filed concerning Otieno's attack in November is still pending in court. Wamaitha said Otieno had reached out to her three times following an attack, assault, and arrest. His death sparked outrage from friends, relatives, and residents of Elburgon, who stormed the Elburgon Nyayo Hospital mortuary, retrieved his body, and paraded it along the Njoro-Molo Road, demanding justice. The protests lasted for four hours until police dispersed the crowd with tear gas. Kuria denied any involvement in the murder and called for swift investigations, urging calm. Homicide detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have taken over the investigation into Otieno's death. Killing condemned On Monday, his body was moved to the Kericho County Referral Hospital mortuary after it was recovered from a thicket near the Molo River in Turi on Sunday night. The National Police Service has yet to comment on the matter. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua condemned the killing, expressing concern over the increasing political intolerance. "The gruesome and brutal murder of Otieno of Molo over the weekend is a clear testimony of another strategy to instill fear among Kenyans, an archaic approach to silence government critics after failed abductions," Gachagua posted on X. He questioned how a nation could descend into a failed state where children and women have no space to breathe and expressed sympathy for Otieno's family. "As we mourn this promising young man, a great human rights defender, we call for justice. His killers must be brought to book. The government of Kenya cannot afford to remain silent on this matter," Gachagua added. Embakasi East MP Babu Owino claimed the government was attempting to shield the perpetrator behind Otieno's death. "There is no need for the DCI to investigate Otieno's murder, as the killer is well known. Let the leader take responsibility for killing this young man. He should be charged with Richard's murder," Owino posted. Roseline Apondi, Otieno's sister, demanded justice for her brother and for other young and courageous individuals who speak out against the government. "Otieno is gone, and we cannot cry for him. I cry for those who are alive and may end up like him," she said. She expressed fear for the future, particularly for her Gen-Z children, following the incident. "I want his body to be taken to my parents for us to bury him, but we cannot bury him before we get justice," Apondi said. She described Otieno as social, talkative, funny, and passionate about politics. She said she had warned him to tone down his criticism of politicians.

Richard Otieno: How vocal Molo 'president' was brutally silenced

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Stand With Bold Journalism.
Stand With The Standard.

Related Topics

Popular this week

Latest Stories

The Standard Insider

Digger Classified

GET OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH US

FOR THE LATEST JOB ADVERTS

DIGGER JOBS

Digger Motors

Digger Real Estate

Richard Otieno: How vocal Molo 'president' was brutally silenced

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Stand With Bold Journalism. Stand With The Standard.

Related Topics

Trending Now

Popular this week

Latest Stories

The Standard Insider

Digger Classified

GET OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH US

FOR THE LATEST JOB ADVERTS

Stand With Bold Journalism.
Stand With The Standard.