- Ochieng was the chairman of youth in the area and was in charge of containers at a bus stop in Kawangware.
- He had also acquired some structures, which he rented out to businessmen.
Image: HANDOUT
An aspiring young politician who supported the hustler movement and rented out structures was kidnapped, tortured, and killed. His body found in a river in Othaya, Nyeri county.
Joseph Ochieng, alias Obude, 28, was abducted from a club in Kawangware on February 19 and his body found in River Thuti days later.
He was in charge of containers at a Kawangware bus stop and rented out structures to businessman.
His family said he was picked from the club where he was having drinks with his friends.
Witnesses said a man dressed in an apron first entered the club and surveyed it before he was joined by two other men who later summoned Ochieng.
“They casually walked towards a car as they were talking. On reaching the car, Ochieng panicked and attempted to escape. He was, however, shoved in the car and they sped off," a witness said.
Ochieng's family said they received a call informing them their son had been picked by people believed to be police officers about 3.30pm and bundled into a Toyota Probox that drove away.
“We reported the matter at Muthangari police station but we did not get much help. We then reported the matter to the Ipoa," his mother, Selina Atieno, said.
On February 23, the family shared his photo on social media forums and were later called by a woman based at Chiromo Mortuary who showed them a photo sent to her from Nyeri.
They went to Nyeri and positively identified the body, which was transferred to Nairobi.
“He had several injuries to the head, indicating he had been tortured," she said.
Ochieng was chairman of the youth in the area and was actively involved in politics.
Police said they have not established the motive for the killing.
Several theories have, however, been put forward. Politicians, including Langata MP Nixon Korir, said Ochieng was among the youth who had come out to support the hustler movement despite threats in Dagoretti North.
“It is very unfortunate that someone has to die for taking a political position, which is his democratic right. Extrajudicial killings must stop,” the MP said.
Nairobi deputy police boss James Mugera said they are investigating the killing.
Officials at Independent Policing Oversight Authority are also investigating.
His murder is the latest incident in which bodies are found dumped in rivers after disappearing from far away. Most of the victims had run-ins with authorities. Most of the cases involving the bodies are under investigations.
Other bodies have been discovered in Yala River, Tana River, Murang'a, Kirinyaga and in many thickets.
(Edited by V. Graham)