Dead but no body

By Kepher Otieno

When Julius Oluoch left home to work in Mombasa seven years ago, his family was excited.

They believed he would supplement their efforts to meet daily financial obligations. But little did they know that he would never return.

He left Oruba village in Migori District and teamed up with his younger brother, Lawrence Odhiambo, who had moved there a year earlier. The duo rented a house at Mishomoroni estate and worked as painters. But in December 2005, Oluoch fell sick at around 8pm after returning from work.

"I rushed him to Coast General Hospital when he started coughing blood," says Odhiambo. At the hospital, he pleaded with the nurses to give Oluoch urgent treatment.

Died Too Soon

Julius Oluoch who died at Coast General Hospital and his body disappeared.

To date, the search has been unsuccessful. The family says they have not received any communication from the police or the hospital management.

"We are now tired. We have given up," he says. Somene called them weeks later and said he had seen somebody resembling Oluoch in Nakuru town. They camped in Nakuru for two weeks searching. Other calls came from Mombasa and Kericho but their search yielded nothing. Such claims have thrown the family into confusion for four years. They are still waiting for his return or his body. His father Philemon Owak, 72, still believes that one day his son will return home.

Police promises

"I don’t believe he died. I never saw him. I was only told then I waited to confirm in vain," he says. "We have left all to God."

The family has refused to conduct a mock burial as per the luo customs. In such cases, a fig tree or banana stem is buried as the presumed body to exorcise evil spirits.

Mombasa OCPD Tom Odera told CCI that though he was not at the station when the incident was reported, he was willing to institute investigations. Odera claimed that there is still a chance of solving the puzzle.

"There is no way a body can just disappear from the mortuary, yet there are records that show who has removed or disposed it," he said.

Coast Provincial General Hospital chief administrator Helton Muganga also expressed willingness to assist in investigations.

"I was not here then but let them provide us with the details then we can trace what happened," he says. He wondered why the family had been quiet for so long.

"Let them come and explain their predicament. Four years is long period," Muganga says.

"We have been traumatised by the mysterious death and subsequent disappearance of the body. If anyone is willing to help, we can’t wait even a minute," Owak says.