Had police been deployed at the venue of slain Busia businessman Johannes Okoth’s funeral as requested by one of the killed bouncers, things could have been different.
This emerged even as the Association of Bouncers in Kenya called for the arrest of four relatives of Okoth that they accused of triggering conflict that led to the killings of their six members in Masebula village, Busia County, on Friday night.
The men in black suits and dark shades were among 10 others from Kisumu attending the burial of the businessman, who was shot dead two weeks ago by unknown assailants.
The six are Phillip Kwach, William Omondi (Sisqo), Evans Onyango Ochieng (Toto), Richard Odero (Nick), David Okeyo (Ouma) and Elvis Odoyo Otieno, popularly known as Chief.
The crowd is said to have descended on the bouncers when they failed to identify themselves at the Sega Mission Hospital mortuary, where they had gone to collect Okoth’s remains, claiming they were unknown.
Busia County Commander Jacob Narengo said information gathered by police indicated that locals had suspected mischief when one of the men was spotted walking around with a black handbag.
It was later discovered that the 10 were bouncers from Kisumu and had been invited to provide security at the funeral.
Ms Moline Atieno, the widow of 35-year-old Sisqo, told the Nation that one Ms Mercy Awuor, said to be the latter’s niece, approached her husband to get some of his colleagues to accompany her to the funeral.
“Sisqo told her that since the ground could be volatile, their presence alone would not guarantee her security and therefore needed police to be at the venue too,” d Ms Atieno said.
It is not clear whether Ms Awuor made any attempts to inform the police or if the two agreed that the police would be present before they set for the journey to Bumala in Busia County.
But at the funeral, Ms Awuor is said to have denied any knowledge of the team, which prompted chaos that led to the deaths of the six men.
Ms Atieno, who has been left with three children, learnt on Sunday that her husband was dead when she saw his body in Busia.
The bodies had dry bloodstains, dents and cuts that might have been inflicted by sharp objects.
Bereaved family members, Kisumu County leaders and locals who thronged Ahero Sub-County Hospital to view the bodies demanded thorough investigations into the merciless killings of the six men that they believe were victims of mistaken identity.
On that fateful day, Elvis Otieno, also a victim, cancelled a trip to Kendu Bay with his mother and entered a pickup truck with his friends to attend the funeral.
According to his brother Kevine Otieno, that was the last time they heard from his young brother, whom, he said, used to be hired to provide security at various ceremonies.
“We were shocked to hear, hours after bidding him goodbye that he was among the six people who had been killed in Busia,” Mr Otieno said.
Mr Boaz Odera, father of Richard Odero, said his final moments with his son were a week ago when he brought some shopping for his mother.
“Richard came home and found me with his mother. He brought soap, sugar and loaves of bread. He also gave me Sh200 before his mother asked him to clear some bushes behind the house before he left,” Mr Odero said.
His uncle, Geoffrey Onyango, said his 24-year-old nephew, who had dropped out of school after Standard Eight, promised him that he would get married and build a house in a few months’ time.
His brother Oliver Tambo described him as humble and maintained that he was not involved in any murder.
Leaders from Kisumu and the association representing bouncers want the perpetrators be brought to book.
The Association of Bouncers in Kenya has written to Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti condemning what they termed as the “barbaric and inhumane” murders of their members whose role was to offer private security at a funeral.
Mr Israel Ikola, the national secretary of the association, wants the DCI to order the arrest of two wives of the businessman and two relatives for triggering the violence that led to the deaths.
“Apart from the four, all those who participated by inflicting pain using rocks, sticks and machetes that ended up killing our brothers must face the full force of the law. The narrative of mistaken identity is a flimsy excuse we cannot stomach as murder is a criminal offence and should be treated as such,” Mr Ikola said.
He pointed out that on many occasions, they are hired to offer security at various ceremonies, duties that he said the members had always executed as professionals.
“On many occasions we have lost our brothers and sisters in the line of duty, yet we do not see any stern action taken by the authorities against the criminals,” Mr Ikola said.
Area leaders, led by Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, Senator Fred Outa, Kisumu Woman Representative Rozah Buyu and Nyando MP Jared Okello, expressed concern about the gruesome murders of the six, who hailed from Kakola village of Nyando sub-county.
“The police are called upon to conduct speedy investigations to bring to light the circumstances that occasioned this act and to bring those responsible to justice,” Prof Nyong’o said.
