In episode three of our eight-part series investigation into the disappearance of journalist-turned-blogger Bogonko Bosire, Case Number Zero turns the spotlight on the blogger’s close friends, family and confidantes.
A tale of a man who made friends in high places through his unparalleled writing skills and a popular platform that could be put into good use.
Bogonko picture
Photo credit: File
At the time of Bogonko’s disappearance, he had just finished an assignment working for the Jubilee campaign, his preferred candidate Uhuru Kenyatta had assumed office and most of his friends, who he worked with in the campaign assumed powerful positions.
It seemed all was going to be well for the man from Kuresoi, who had bought himself a one way ticket to the centre of power in Nairobi, from a tiny town through the sheer force of his abilities.
Bogonko’s presence among the high and mighty in Kenya’s power circles was therefore not an anomaly, it had become the norm. One of his closest friends was former State House director for digital and diaspora, Dennis Itumbi.
Chapter 3 - Bogonko Bosire: The Itumbi connection
Their friendship started in 2000 when they met while enrolling at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication. This friendship that would last 13 years was cemented quickly through their shared interests, their realisation that they were both proud sons of teachers, and they both grew up in the village. They were the best of friends, according to Itumbi.
Weeks before the blogger disappeared, his activities among close friends was dumbfounding, many who saw him and interacted with him thought something was wrong.
However, when Bogonko went unreported the first few days and weeks, there was no urgency to locate him. The talk of town was that ‘Bogonko was somewhere,’ and rumour mills went into high gear, even indicating that he had escaped to either Zimbabwe or Nigeria.
According to Itumbi, Bogonko complained about ICC and a very well-known judge who had told him to “keep off the ICC”. Through his blog, the Jackal News, he had apparently revealed the identity of a witness.
Mohammed Ali, investigative journalist turned MP, says Itumbi must know what happened to Bogonko and where he is. Based on how close their friendship was, he finds it odd that Itumbi has not provided clear answers. He also says that as a powerful man in the Jubilee government then, Itumbi must have had the ability to locate his lost friend.
“I think as a friend he knows the worries and frustrations of Bogonko at the time. May be Bogonko told him that he is afraid of something, so, I would ask Itumbi, what was his feeling when Bogonko posted the name of the ICC witness,” says Ali .
Chapter 2 - Bogonko Bosire: Twisted genius
Even as mutual friends continued to pile pressure on Itumbi, he retorted that he had done ‘what was humanly possible’ in attempts to locate Bogonko. He went on to provide his timeline of events in which he says that the last story that Bogonko was working on was about a sitting MP, who had impregnated a woman and refused to take care of her. He says Bogonko was adamant about exposing the MP.
The questions around the last time Bogonko was seen and the subsequent answers are key to solving the mystery surrounding his seven-year disappearance.
Speculations of what the blogger might have done or who he might have wronged continue to be a moving target. But, the actions or lack of it, by his friends in high places are perhaps the biggest give away.
Case Number Zero has so far established, through dozens of interviews, and three episodes later that the last few days of Bogonko were unusual. They indicate that the man had changed and that he seemed quite bothered about something or someone.
Friends and family, therefore, find it difficult to accept the explanations by his best friend Itumbi that he doesn’t know anything about Bogonko’s state of mind at the time and perhaps what was bothering the blogger.
Dennis Onsarigo, a former investigative journalist, says he saw Bogonko just before he disappeared in town and according to him as well, there is only one man who has answers about the cold case.
“Itumbi owes us an answer about the whereabouts of Bogonko Bosire,” says Onsarigo.
Talking to Case Number Zero, Itumbi says he had pressured DCI Industrial Area to conclude investigations into what might have happened to Bogonko. The family has never heard from the police in the last seven years.
He also says Bogonko’s phone that he tracked through Safaricom goes off in the middle of town. Again, this information has never been provided to the family by any authorities. As Itumbi tries to trace the last steps of his friend, he is aware that the cold case weighs heavily on him.
“Bogonko wanted to take a trip to 10 counties to find his dream girl, a one-legged girl. His views about marriage were not clear, he wanted to get married, divorce then get married again,” Itumbi says, showing how close they were.
Bogonko’s sister Winnie Bosire says the family has been following Itumbi’s explanations and they believe he knows something about his disappearance.
