- Otieno reportedly went missing with one of his friends, George Abong’o.
- Margaret Akeyo (mother) says family efforts have bore no fruits after moving from several police stations, hospitals and mortuaries across the county.
Image: COURTESY
A 76-year-old widow is pleading with police to hasten the search of her son, 46, who went missing three months ago in Yala town in Gem, Siaya.
Erick Otieno Omeno, a husband of two and father of three, was reportedly last seen on August 6 at Yala – Kisumu stage.
Margaret Akeyo says family efforts have borne no fruits after going to several police stations, hospitals and mortuaries across the county.
Akeyo on Tuesday said they have searched for her son in several counties including Siaya, Kisumu, Busia, Homa Bay and Nairobi.
The incident was reported to Yala police station under OB NO: 3/13/08/2021. Otieno reportedly went missing with one of his friends, George Abong’o.
Gem police commander Charles Chacha confirmed to the Star on Tuesday that the two were reported missing and a report made at the said police station.
Chacha said investigations were ongoing and the Gem DCI had taken over the matter.
“We have lots of cases of missing people in the subcounty, we have recovered so many bodies too.
"We told Otieno’s mother to go to Yala subcounty hospital mortuary and check if there could be a body resembling that of her missing son,” Chacha said in a phone interview.
Akeyo said they had identified a body and samples taken to a government laboratory in Kisumu for DNA analysis on September 18 but they were yet to receive the results.
The body suspected to be that of her son according to the widow was found dumped in River Yala, along the river bank.
It was later moved to Yala subcounty hospital mortuary where samples were extracted for DNA analysis.
The family however, complains that the results had taken long to be released.
“First sample didn’t go through, the second one was taken and we have been told that reagents are out of stock. Usually it takes three to five days, I don’t know why this is taking longer,” one of the family members said.
Chacha said government laboratories at times delay with the results.
The police boss however, encouraged residents to ensure cases of missing persons were reported in good time to make tracing them easier.
He said the incident of Akeyo’s missing son case was reported after three days.
“If a report is made more than 24 hours later, it becomes difficult since police have to liars with Safaricom to get phone data in a bid to help trace them,” Chacha said.
The police boss decried high numbers of bodies being dumped in River Yala, a river he said stretches to Uasin Gishu.
He said early October, some five bodies were found dumped along the river bank. Two more were found at Nzawa bridge in Ulumbi, Gem, Siaya county two days later. All the bodies he said belong to male persons.
“These bodies aren’t from around since the dead persons were not known to the residents. There is a possibility that people are killed elsewhere and transported here for dumping,” Chacha said.
He said Yala sub county hospital mortuary had lots of such bodies, majority of which were yet to be identified and are men.
The police boss said 14 bodies were recovered from River Yala between January and October.
Residents claimed to have spotted a white probox car suspected to be behind the bodies along the river.
But, Chacha said the claims couldn’t be proven, hence cautioned those peddling the rumours to make a formal report to the nearest police stations and help in tracing the claimed car and its owners.
The police boss also cautioned residents against giving out false and misleading reports.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)