Explained: What Killed Activist Richard Otieno Revealed By Gov’t Pathologist
Johansen Oduor, a government pathologist, revealed that Richard Otieno, alias ‘Molo President,‘ died from serious head injuries caused by a sharp object.
“The late Richard had several severe injuries. There were multiple slash wounds on the back of the head, which led to the fracture of the skull and extensive bleeding of the brain,” Odour stated after an autopsy on Friday.
“There were also some slash wounds on the frontal area of the skull as well as bruising on the face.”
“From these findings, we can conclude that the late Richard died as a result of a severe head injury that was caused by a sharp object,” he asserted.
“This could either be a panga or an axe, which was used severally on the head.”
Molo activist Richard Otieno died from head injuries, says government pathologist Johansen Oduor pic.twitter.com/xWRAjrlm2m
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) January 24, 2025
On Saturday, January 18, the campaigner was brutally murdered by unknown assailants as he was leaving a bar for home.
The attack apparently occurred outside his home, which is only 200 meters from the Elburgon police station.
Otieno reportedly lived in fear for his life following two earlier murder attempts that left him injured. Prior to the terrible tragedy, Otieno had made claims about receiving threats because of his activities.
According to his wife, the dead activist was a target for his criticism of local leadership and President William Ruto’s administration.
Speaking to journalists on January 20, Otieno’s wife revealed that her late husband had complained about three unknown people following him.
According to her, Otieno’s problems began in June of last year, during anti-government rallies, when he was jailed for reportedly being part of the group that destroyed Molo Member of Parliament Kuria Kimani’s home.
The deceased’s wife also said that her husband was attacked in November 2024 by people she believed were accomplices to a local politician.
While investigating her husband’s death, Otieno’s widow reported that on the fateful day, she heard a loud cry coming from the gate.
When she arrived at the scene, she saw her husband had been viciously injured, with major cuts on his skull.
“On that fateful day, he called me and told me that he was coming home, so I went to open the gate, but I found the gate had already been opened, so I went back to the house. A few minutes later I heard someone screaming,” Otieno’s wife stated.
Rosalinda Wamaitha, Otieno’s family lawyer, told the press that the deceased had received threats from people well-known to members of the public.
According to Wamaitha, there was evidence of screenshots of threatening texts that Otieno got prior to his murder.
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His murder sparked widespread outrage, with angry locals rushing to the streets, blocking the Njoro-Molo road with rocks and igniting bonfires.
The enraged residents invaded the mortuary where the deceased’s body was being housed and paraded it through the streets.
Currently, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations is investigating the activist’s killing.
The police intend to examine two local politicians and other witnesses as they strive to uncover the events surrounding the murder.
Explained: What Killed Activist Richard Otieno Revealed By Gov’t Pathologist
