Mother's chilling testimony ties son to ex-treasury official Tom Osinde's murder case

Julius Mugoi Ogao accused in the murder of Ex-Treasury official Tom Osinde. {Photo/Yvonne Chepkwony.} Witnesses in the murder of ex-treasury official Tom Osinde testified that they saw Julius Mugoi Ogao driving Osinde's vehicle on the night of June 18 and 19, 2023, in Kisii County. Jane Nyambeki testified before Nakuru Judge Julius Nangea that her son came home driving a black V8 car claiming it belonged to his boss. Ogao is charged with the murder of Osinde (his boss) on the night of June 17 at his Ngata Farm in Rongai, Nakuru County. Nyambeki stated that her son was in possession of Osinde's vehicle, which was later discovered abandoned in Kilgoris on June 23, with faulty sensors and missing number plates. "I recall the night of 18th and 19th June at around midnight. I was asleep when my son came and woke me up. He said he was driving his boss's car and had left it on the road. My grandson and I went to see it," she said. The following day, on her way to the farm, she saw the vehicle clearly. However, when she returned hours later, it was missing. She later learnt from her grandson that Ogao had given him several items to keep in the house. "My grandson showed me two speakers-one smaller than the other-and a car jack. They were in a blue bag. I called the chief to inspect the items," she added. The woman questioned her son's possession of the items, noting that he did not own a vehicle. She also revealed that her relationship with her son had been strained since they had a dispute over land in 2018. Her son had disappeared for some time, only to return driving a luxury car. When the chief saw the items, detectives visited her home that evening and took them into custody. She informed detectives about her son's visit with the expensive vehicle. Samson Osiro, a neighbour, testified that on the night of June 18, he was woken up by loud music. Upon investigating, he found Ogao with a V8 vehicle parked on the road near his house. Ogao's mother and grandson were also present. "Ogao proudly opened the trunk to show off the car. I saw a powersaw, a pressure seat, a TV set, a woofer, and other items," Osiro said. The following morning, he saw Ogao with the vehicle again, at which point Ogao asked him for help cleaning it. Osiro was puzzled by the fact that his neighbour refused to let him inside the vehicle. "Ogao didn't allow anyone to enter the vehicle or even look inside. Instead, he asked us to hang onto the outside of the car as he drove to the river," he said. "He didn't want us to clean inside, on our way to the river we hung on the motor vehicle from the outside as he drove," he added. At the river, Osiro said they cleaned only the exterior of the vehicle, as per Ogao's instructions. "Ogao then drove to Kinyenya. I wanted to accompany him, but he refused. The next time I saw him, he was carrying a black bag and walking," he said. Ogao had lived in Osinde's house for about three months, working as a house help. Prosecutor Nancy Sang informed the court that 15 more witnesses were yet to testify. The case is scheduled to be heard on 15th and 20th May. Osinde disappeared on the night of June 17, 2023, from his Ngata Farm, Nakuru His decomposed body was later recovered at River Kuja in Migori County on June 28, 2023, a week after his vehicle was reported dumped at Kilgoris. In October last year, when the trial commenced, witnesses recounted his last movements and how Ogao was arrested in connection to the murder. Osinde's son Steve Mogaya informed the court that his father's phone was switched off when he called him on June 22. The following day, he received information that his vehicle was abandoned at Kilgoris. He said he had travelled home with his sister and found blood, believed to be his father's, on a sofa, a plastic chair, the floor, and walls of their Ngata residence. He questioned Ogao and Gathii Mugo who were present in the homestead about his father's whereabouts. He learned from Ogao that his father had traveled to Nairobi and had given him days off which was usually due to the workload on the farm. "My father would never permit two workers to go on leave at the same time as our farm manager Jacob Juma was off duty," Mogaya said. In the house, he realised that items such as a TV 32 inches, a Sony movie theater, a radio, a power saw, a welding machine and inflatable mattress overall, beddings, gumboots and kitchen items missing. Mugo testified that he last saw his boss alive on June 17, 2023. He recalled seeking help from Ogao, to feed the livestock, but he was missing. "At around 5pm, I needed Ogao's assistance to feed the livestock, but he wasn't around. Construction workers at Osinde's house told me that the boss had been asking for him," Mugo said. Later, Ogao returned, appearing anxious and explained that he had escorted his lover who had visited him. On 18 June, while feeding the livestock, Mugo met Ogao and exchanged greetings. He learned from Ogao that Osinde was travelling to Nyamira, he waited patiently for him to give instructions as it was his norm but in vain. At around 4 pm, he heard the vehicle reversing, as he went to open the main gate no one was there. He decided to check the backdoor which was rarely used and saw tyre trucks existing, at 6 pm after feeding the livestock he discovered switches were vandalized. On 19 June, Mugo continued with his routine until Juma returned at around 7 pm and questioned him about the lights. Attempts to repair the vandalized switches were in vain, as they tried to call the boss, they discovered that his phone was off. The next day at around 10 pm Ogao returned but was scared to sleep in his usual room. Ogao told them that Osinde had sent him for an errand in Kericho as he travelled to Nairobi.

Mother's chilling testimony ties son to ex-treasury official Tom Osinde's murder case

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