The postmortem on the body of a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) ranger who was found dead in his house within Lake Nakuru National Park last week has ruled out suicide, raising fresh questions about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Initial reports had indicated that Corporal Leonard Ochieng Odero shot himself on Wednesday evening at the Honeymoon Camp inside the park using a CZ Bren 2 assault rifle.
However, an autopsy conducted by Government Pathologist Titus Ngulungu revealed that Cpl Odero died from massive blood loss and severe head and chest injuries that were inconsistent with a self-inflicted death.
Government pathologist, Dr Titus Ngulungu, addresses the media at a past event.
Photo credit: Mercy Koskey | Nation Media Group
Dr Ngulungu found that the body had three fatal gunshot wounds: one entered through the rear of the skull and exited through the mouth, shattering the jaws; another entered through the left back rib cage and exited through the left chest; and the third struck the left shoulder from the front and exited backwards, shattering the upper left arm.
“As a result of my examination, I have formed the opinion that the cause of death was massive blood loss and head and chest injuries,” read part of the report.
Based on the findings, the pathologist ruled out suicide indicating that the officer may have been murdered.
A detective privy to the investigations told the Nation that detectives have since launched a murder probe and revisited the scene to collect crucial evidence.
“Since the case has changed from suicide to murder, we have revisited the scene and cordoned it off to collect new evidence,” the detective said.
Lake Nakuru National Park Senior KWS Officer Edwin Mwasi, who reported the incident, had initially stated that the officer, who was on standby duty at the camp, had pumped six bullets into his head, chest, mouth and hand.
According to the initial report, Mr Odero allegedly locked himself inside a room at the camp and sat on the floor before shooting himself. However, investigators have since noted several inconsistencies in that account.
“His colleagues who responded to the gunshots found the body lying in a pool of blood. The body had two gunshot wounds to the head, one on the chin area, another on the chest and two others on the left hand. The officer was on standby duty and had been issued with a CZ Bren 2 rifle, Serial Number E057430, together with three magazines each loaded with 25 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition," said Mr Mwasi.
Police also recovered a note believed to have been authored by the officer, which detectives are analysing as part of the investigation.
According to a report filed at Bondeni Police Station, where the matter was first reported, the officer was found seated on the floor after allegedly shooting himself.
Bondeni Police Station in Nakuru, where the shooting report was filed.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Investigators are also relying on six spent cartridges recovered from the scene as they seek to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death, which has taken a new twist following the postmortem findings.
The Nation has learnt that the officer had served at Lake Nakuru National Park for only one and a half months after being transferred from Aberdare National Park, where he was previously stationed.
