A serial killer is on the police radar in Gem-Yala, Siaya County, following a series of killings reported in the area over the past two months. The murders have sparked fear within the area.
According to Gem Yala Sub-County Police Commander Charles Wafula, the suspect behind the brutal murders has been identified as Charles Onyango Odhiambo, alias ‘Kwa’.
The police boss told the Daily Nation that a manhunt has already been launched to bring the suspect to book.
“We are following all possible leads that can take us to his hideout. We encourage members of the public to share any information that can assist investigators,” said Mr Wafula.
He further noted that the suspect’s main targets are women and young girls whom he sexually assaults before killing.
The discovery of a decomposing human head and palms in a pit latrine at Kachola village on July 11 triggered more fear and panic among locals.
The police commander indicated that the body parts are suspected to belong to Elizabeth Atieno Ochieng, 15, a student at Uranga Secondary School in East Gem who was murdered on July 3 and her body dismembered.
“The CCTV footage we have seen captured the suspect with two girls in Yala Town on July 3. The girls have been identified as Elizabeth Atieno and her younger sister. They had gone to pick up uniforms at one of the shops within Yala Town,” said Mr Wafula.
The three reportedly walked from the town center toward a village known as Ahono when Elizabeth’s sister branched off to fetch water from a nearby homestead.
“But when she returned, her sister Elizabeth and the suspect were missing. She proceeded home and reported the matter to her mother. That night, Elizabeth did not return home. Instead, her clothes and her dismembered body parts were discovered at different places within the sub-county the following day,” added Mr Wafula.
The teenager’s decomposing head and palms would later be found by a village elder Peris Ngesa following an unusually persistent foul smell emanating from her pit latrine. Ms Ngesa lives a short distance from the suspect’s home.
She immediately informed the police who demolished the latrine with the help of villagers to retrieve the body parts, which were later taken to Yala Sub-County Hospital mortuary.
“We are still missing her breasts, but an intensive search is ongoing. Once we find them, we shall put all the recovered parts through a DNA test to ascertain compatibility,” he added.
The suspect is also linked to the death of Veronica Odongo, 46, who he allegedly waylaid on July 5 and murdered before dumping her body in River Yala.
The incident occurred at Ulumbi village next to the bridge. Ms Odomgo was heading home from her business when the suspect attacked her.
“She was accosted by the suspect while crossing the footbridge at around 7pm. From forensic evidence gathered, we could tell that she really struggled with her killer,” Mr Wafula said.
Family members who expected her to be home between 7.45 pm and 8pm became worried after she failed to show up and launched a search for her. After calling her mobile phone several times, a man finally picked up and misdirected them to Jina location within Gem Yala Sub-County.
A thorough search conducted the following morning yielded Ms Odongo’s blood-stained clothes next to the bridge at Ulumbi. Her body was retrieved two days later from River Yala.
Murder of two schoolgirls
“We recovered a cap and sports shoes at the same spot where Ms Odongo’s clothes were found. The cap and shoes resemble those that the suspect wore on the day he was spotted with the two girls on CCTV in Yala Town. Elizabeth’s younger sister confirmed the same. With the aid of sniffer dogs we have also recovered a bag we believe belongs to the suspect,” said Mr Wafula.
Police also believe that the suspect is behind the heinous murder of two schoolgirls in May this year.
“The suspect is also likely to be behind the killing of 17-year-old Ema Akinyi Onyango on May 26, a student at Yala Township, whose body was discovered dumped in Nyamninia next to the KBC Sub-station,” said Mr Wafula.
Ms Akinyi was attacked early in the morning on her way to school. She was sexually assaulted and her body dumped.
When the body was found, her mouth had been stuffed with her school socks. Intriguingly, nothing was stolen from her.
A day later, on May 27, another female student’s body was discovered dumped on a path leading to her home in Sagam.
“The body of Angel Mitchel, a student at Sagam Day Secondary School, is also linked to the cruel acts of the same suspect. The police are alert and we shall arrest him,” assured Mr Wafula.
On Thursday, July 10, an angry mob from Bar-Kalare village within Gem Yala stormed the suspect’s home and torched three houses.
“The group is believed to be family members of the slain girl. They burned the houses belonging to the suspect’s brother, his uncle and his mother,” stated a police incident report recorded at Yala Police Station.
