KWS rangers may have killed missing fisherman, witness tells court

The photo of Brian Odhiambo,the youth picked by KWS officers on Saturday at Manyani area and since then he has not been found. [Courtesy] A witness under protection has told a court how Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers disappeared with the missing fisherman, Brian Odhiambo. The witness said one officer indicated that Odhiambo, who was lying unconscious in a KWS Land Cruiser, was already dead. Testifying virtually from the Nakuru GK Prison where he is serving a sentence for illegal fishing, described how the ranger turned the Odhiambo, lifted his head, and checked his pulse. His evidence corroborated with that of another fisherman, also in jail, who described how he saw the rangers beat Odhiambo before throwing him into the vehicle "like a sack of potatoes". Odhiambo went missing on January 18 after he was allegedly arrested by KWS rangers for illegal fishing at Lake Nakuru. Six KWS rangers are accused of abducting Odhiambo. Yesterday, the witness told Principal Magistrate Kipkurui Kibelion that he went fishing in the lake at around 8am. After some time, he saw his colleagues running from the Vietnam area before he saw KWS rangers chasing them. "I was inside the lake, and I got scared, so I got out of the lake and was surrounded by rangers, and they arrested me," he said. He described how the rangers assaulted them. Those arrested were ferried in a boat to Summit, where they were ordered to lie down and wait for transport to police station. "The rangers were ruthless, and when one lifted his head, he was hit with blows and kicks. I lay down facing the side of the road," he said. When a green KWS Land Cruiser arrived to pick them up, he lifted his head and saw a person lying on his stomach inside. A ranger opened the door and instructed the person to create space for others, but he did not move. He said the officer turned the man and lifted his head. It's at that point that the witness recognised the man as Odhiambo, who wore black sports shorts with white stripes but he had no shirt or shoes. He said that the officer signaled to the others that the man may have been have been dead. "The ranger showed signs that Odhiambo was dead, but his in-charge shushed him and directed the driver to drive off. The car drove off to a bush near the lake, and at the same time, I was kicked and ordered to look down. We did not see the vehicle again," he testified. "We did not understand why the Land Cruiser drove to the bush instead of driving to the offices." According to the witness, one of the fishermen who had been injured on the nose was released, while nine of them were driven to the Bondeni Police Station. Fearing for their lives, the fishermen lied to the police officers that they had not been assaulted. But late in the night, they had to be rushed to hospital after complaining of body aches. They also told the police that they had not seen Odhiambo in fear of getting victimised. The witness identified Odhiambo in court in a picture. He also identified five of the six KWS rangers charged. And his evidence, Alex Maina, a casual labourer who was slashing grass near where Odhiambo was allegedly taken, described his encounter with the missing fisherman on his way to the lake. Main, who is in custody in Nyandarua for illegal fishing, said Odhiambo was hesitant, fearing wild animals would attack him, but he urged him on. However, after some time, he heard a vehicle approaching and saw Odhiambo running. "The Land Cruiser stopped, and KWS rangers alighted and chased Odhiambo. It did not take long since he was exhausted. They started assaulting him," he testified. He said after the kicks and blows, they carried him, tearing his clothes. "They took him away and threw him in the cruiser like a sack of potatoes before driving away. They ignored my shouts and pleas," he said, confirming that he was in black shorts with white stripes. The case continues on Monday when the last witness will testify.

KWS rangers may have killed missing fisherman, witness tells court

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