Fears as Siaya Bishop goes missing

Police in Siaya are yet to trace a bishop of a local church who went missing a week ago.

Bishop Charles Oduor Awich (pictured) of Roho Judea Church disappeared under unclear circumstances on January 11.

Siaya County Police Commander Francis Kooli said the case had been reported and that investigation had been launched.

According to the police boss, the bishop was picked up from his Ndere home in Alego-Usonga sub-county by two men on a motorbike.

The men, who are said to have been wearing police uniform,  claimed he was required for interrogation at a nearby Alego Ndere police post.

According to the family who reported the matter at Siaya County Police Division Headquarters under OB No. 08/12/01/2020, there were no such police interrogations.

On Sunday, officials of the Fellowship of Churches Organization led by Francis Odhiambo (Chairman), Boniface Onyango (Secretary), Ronald Mala (Roho Judea Church) and Abraham Ododa (Jerusalem Assembly church) addressed the media in Siaya town, calling for speedy investigations into the matter.

"We are calling upon police to speed up investigations and bring to book those who are suspected to have kidnapped the man of God," said Ododa.

The clergy said the absence of their member is already having its impact on his family.

According to the bishop's wife, Hellen Adhiambo, he was involved in a land tussle with some of his relatives.

“We suspect he could have been kidnapped because of the ongoing land case which is still pending before a court in Siaya,” she told The Standard.

Adhiambo appealed to the State to assist them to trace her husband, whom she described as their breadwinner.

Central Alego MCA Leonard Oriaro urged police to conduct thorough investigations into the matter.