Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen has spoken out for the first time regarding the disappearance of fisherman Brian Odhiambo, who went missing after allegedly being detained by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers at Lake Nakuru National Park.
Murkomen addressed the issue on Wednesday, March 19, after a dramatic interruption by Odhiambo’s mother, Elizabeth Auma, while he was speaking to residents in Nakuru West during the launch of the national mobile registration outreach programme.
In a video, CS Murkomen is seen addressing the crowd in the Shabab settlement when Auma, visibly distressed, stormed the podium.
A security officer attempted to stop her from reaching Murkomen, but the CS intervened, instructing the officer to let her through.
“Just come,” Murkomen can be heard saying as he helped Auma onto the podium.
Auma whispered something to Murkomen, prompting him to direct her to take a seat at the VIP dais, where the County Commissioner received her.
“I will address the matter right now. Sorry, Mama (Auma),” he assured her.
Murkomen promised to ensure that Auma receives justice and that an investigation into her son’s disappearance would take place.
He emphasized that KWS officers at Lake Nakuru National Park would be held accountable for Odhiambo’s disappearance.
“I stand in solidarity with her, and we will do whatever is necessary to hold those KWS officers accountable for taking her son.
We will continue this fight until we know where Brian is,” he said.
Odhiambo, 31, went missing on January 18, 2025, under unclear circumstances, with his family insisting he was among those detained by KWS officers.
However, no official records of his detention have been found, leaving his whereabouts unknown.
On Monday afternoon, after weeks of frustration, a convoy of police officers, Directorate of Criminal Investigations detectives, human rights activists, journalists, and Odhiambo’s family were granted restricted access to Lake Nakuru National Park.
The family and investigators were previously denied entry by KWS last week.
With the help of an informer, who had insider knowledge of KWS officers’ actions, the group entered the park and began investigating possible burial sites for bodies.
Crime scene investigators took photos and soil samples after excavating a site indicated by the informer, who claimed it was where several bodies had been buried.
Despite extensive digging, no human remains were found.
The informer then directed the team to an acacia tree, where nine shallow graves were discovered, six of them freshly dug.
He pointed to one of the mounds, declaring, “This is where Brian’s body was.” However, after further forensic work, no body was uncovered.
Frustration grew as Auma broke down in tears. “I am not satisfied at all. These sites looked disturbed, and I believe they moved the bodies.
But what is hidden will be revealed. If they took my son’s body and buried it elsewhere, we will find him,” she vowed.
Nakuru East DCIO Samuel Ngeiywa informed the search team that soil samples had been taken for forensic analysis.
He also turned to a senior KWS officer for clarification on the mysterious holes.
“I need a report on whether these holes were dug by humans, wild animals, or herbalists searching for medicinal plants.
We’ve documented the findings, and each team representative will sign the inventory,” Ngeiywa stated.
