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Certified urgent: Lobby seeks public inquest into Brian Odhiambo's whereabouts

Brian Odhiambo

A portrait of Nakuru fisherman Brian Odhiambo who disappeared on January 18, 2025 after being arrested by KWS officers at Lake Nakuru National Park.

Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group

By  Joseph Openda

Correspondent

Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

  • The authorities have denied responsibility and failed to provide answers on his whereabouts.
  • The applicants insist that the case is of immense public interest, touching on fundamental human rights.

A Nakuru court on Thursday February 20 certified as urgent an application seeking a public inquest into the mysterious disappearance of Brian Odhiambo, a fisherman who went missing while allegedly in the custody of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers in Nakuru County.

The application filed by human rights group Vocal Africa and Odhiambo’s wife Ivy Aoko Okello, names the Director of Public Prosecutions, KWS, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Inspector General of Police as respondents.

Brian Odhiambo's family to KWS: Give him back and you'll never hear from us again

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Odhiambo disappeared on January 18 after being arrested by KWS officers at Lake Nakuru National Park. 

Despite repeated pleas from his family and the community, authorities have denied responsibility and failed to provide answers on his whereabouts.

Read: ‘We arrested a man but he escaped before processing’: Mystery deepens in Nakuru fisherman’s disappearance

Nakuru Principal Magistrate Vincent Okello certified the application as urgent and directed that it be served on the respondents, who must file their responses before the hearing on February 26.

“Note that service upon the first response should be brought to the attention of the prosecuting counsel court number 10 in order to avoid delay in response,” ruled the magistrate.

In a sworn affidavit, Haki Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid argued that Odhiambo’s disappearance could be a case of enforced disappearance. 

Read: Where is Odhiambo? Fourth straight day of chaos in Nakuru over missing fisherman

He noted that KWS officers allegedly took him into custody before he went missing, yet the park’s management denies holding him.

The applicants insist that the case is of immense public interest, touching on fundamental human rights, and warn that delays could lead to loss or tampering of crucial evidence.

“There is an urgent need for an inquest to establish the circumstances of his disappearance and to ensure that justice is served,” stated Mr Khalid.

The hearing is set for February 26.

jopenda@ke.nationmedia.com