Angeline Juma Ogutu holds John Ogutu's photo in Siaya County.
Angeline Juma Ogutu of Kademba village, in Siaya County, is appealing for government help to bring home the body of her son, John Okoth Ogutu, who was killed during the violence that hit parts of Tanzania following the general elections.
Mr Ogutu is said to have been a teacher at a private school in Tanzania. The news of his death was broken on Friday evening.
“Even prior to the sad news of my son’s death, I had felt a heaviness in my heart throughout the day that was unshakeable,” said Ms Ogutu.
She said her son was shot in the back on Wednesday evening by Tanzanian police officers.
“He had finished teaching at Sky Schools in Dar es Salaam and was heading to Gaba Centre to buy food. Unfortunately, he met his death,” she said.
Celestine Ogutu, John’s eldest sibling, says that she started worrying as soon as news of the unrest in Tanzania began to be continuously covered by local news channels.
“Since October 30, when the tension started in Dar es Salaam, I was worried. I sent him a text message via WhatsApp; he had two lines, both Kenyan and Tanzanian,” she said.
“I asked him in the text chat, 'Bro, are you safe?' I called both numbers but I received no response.”
Immediately, she called her younger sister, Mercy, to get in touch with their brother.
However, on Friday evening, a new Tanzanian number kept calling Celestine while she was preparing to go to church for night vigil prayers.
“When I picked up the call, I heard the voice of my cousin Jennifer. She sounded low but delivered the news of my brother’s killing,” she said.
For Celestine, the news of her brother’s death was unbelievable.
“I felt the need to call my mother to confirm my fears. But when I heard screams, it was enough confirmation. As a family, we are shattered,” she said.
Angeline Juma Ogutu holds John Ogutu's photo in Siaya County.
The family has lost three members in two years. For the widow, this will be the seventh child she is burying.
The family received information from the school administration that Mr Ogutu was with his friend at Gaba Centre.
Reportedly, he had concluded offering evening tuition to learners, taken some items home, and gone out to buy food. It was after that that the friend called the school to confirm that Mr Ogutu had been killed.
“The police later came and took all the bodies that were there to Mwananyamala Mortuary. No one has been able to determine where his body is, not even the school administration,” she said.
The family remembers the 33-year-old teacher of English as a hardworking and humble man.
Eight years ago, he left teaching at one of the primary schools in Bondo for greener pastures in Dar es Salaam.
This December, he had planned to return home to Siaya County. According to his mother, Mr Ogutu had intended to settle down and start a family in Kenya.
“I last talked to my son in early October. He had many plans, now that his dad had passed on,” she said.
The family is appealing to the Kenyan government to help them bring John’s body home for burial.
“At least the human rights advocates have shown interest in helping out. All we want is to bury our brother at home,” said Isaiah Ogutu.
