Mr Otieno, who was a youth leader and a fierce critic of the government and Molo MP Kuria Kimani, was hacked to death on Saturday night, a few metres from Elburgon Police Station.
Otieno, also known as Molo President, was found murdered two days after he complained that he was being trailed by three unknown persons and receiving threats.
The Nation has established that detectives from the Homicide Department of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have taken charge of investigations to unravel the circumstances surrounding the mysterious death.
Family of Richard Otieno, ‘The president of Molo’, demands justice after his murder
On Tuesday, a team of detectives led by Homicide director Martin Nyuguto visited the scene of the crime where Otieno was clobbered to death by unknown persons.
Otieno met the cruel hand of death just outside his gate as he returned home after watching an English Premier League football match at a club in Elburgon town.
The DCI detectives later held a meeting with the family where they assured them of thorough investigations to bring to book the killers.
"The team from the Homicide Department of the DCI have taken over investigations into the gruesome murder. The team is piecing together information that will help them unravel the bizarre murder and arrest the killers," the family lawyer, Roselinda Wamaitha told the Nation.
Margaret Mwihaki, the wife of late Molo Human Rights Activist Richard Otieno, popularly knows the “Molo President”, points to where her husband was killed in Elburgon Town, Nakuru County, on January 20, 2025. He was killed on Saturday night by unknown people.
Photo credit: John Njoroge | Nation Media Group
"The team has assured the family and the public that justice will be done and the killers will be arrested and prosecuted," she added.
Homicide Director Martin Nyuguto (left) and Kenya National Commission on Human Rights head of investigations Kamanda Mucheke at the scene where Molo-based activist Richard Otieno was killed.
Photo credit: John Njoroge | Nation Media Group
Molo police commander Timon Odingo also told the Nation that the investigators are following good leads that will soon lead to the arrest of those behind the murder.
"I urge members of the public to remain calm as detectives conduct investigations into the murder. Let the public avoid speculation...investigators will track down and arrest the killers, “said the police boss.
"Detectives have hit the ground, we are conducting thorough investigations, so far no suspect has been arrested, but we have crucial leads. We want to conduct our investigations fully before making any arrests because we do not want to make arrests then investigate as the 24-hour rule (to produce arrested suspects in court) will catch up with us, “added Mr Odingo.
As the probe kicked off, a detective privy to the investigations has revealed to the Nation that investigators are looking into the circumstances under which Otieno was killed, the threats he received, and reports of three unknown persons who had allegedly trailed him on Thursday last week before he was killed on Saturday.
"We are following crucial leads including the people he interacted with before he was attacked and three people who had allegedly trailed him before he met his death, to arrest his killers. We are also tracing his last movements and conversations to find out what transpired before he was attacked by the assailants,” said the officer, who sought anonymity.
He added: “We will not rest until we ensure that the killers are apprehended and arraigned in court."
It has also emerged that two politicians in the area and several witnesses are among the people that detectives plan to question as they try to unravel the circumstances surrounding the murder.
"We will question several witnesses and two politicians, as we seek to understand the motive behind the bizarre murder,” further revealed the officer.
Also key in the investigations will be the post-mortem expected to be conducted later this week by Government pathologist Johansen Oduor.
The Nation learnt that more than five people have since recorded statements that will help detectives in their investigations.
"Several people have recorded statements that will help solve the puzzle surrounding the murder,” said Molo police boss Mr Odingo.
On Sunday, protests rocked Elburgon town, as residents demanded answers over the murder from the police.
The angry residents took the body, stashed it in a plastic bag, and carried it before dumping it outside Elburgon Police Station.
Moments later, they took the body from the police station and carried it along the Elburgon-Molo road for about five kilometres.
According to Molo sub-county police commander, Timon Odingo, the body has since been moved to a mortuary in Kericho for preservation.
For two days now, Elburgon town and its neighbourhood have experienced a heavy police presence, after word went around that members of the public would stage more protests to demand justice for the deceased.
Earlier in the week, Molo MP Kuria Kimani called on residents to remain calm and avoid speculations about the murder.
"I urge the security agents to conduct thorough investigations and bring to book those behind the murder of the youthful activist. I had political differences with him, but it was just that -politics not personal,” said Mr Kimani.
The lawmaker assured Mr Otieno s family justice as he asked them to stay calm as police carry out investigations.
Meanwhile, Nakuru Human Rights Network (Nahurinet) Director David Kuria has called for thorough investigations into the mysterious murder.
"We want the DCI to expedite the investigations into the murder to have the culprits arrested and charged in court," Mr Kuria said.
"The investigations must be expedited to ensure that the killers and the masterminds of his death are brought to justice,” added Kuria.
