Police have arrested three additional persons of interest in connection with the killing of Richard Otieno, widely known as Molo President, whose murder on January 18, 2025, sent shockwaves through the town of Elburgon and the whole country.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced early Monday morning February 24, 2025, that a joint team from the Homicide Investigations Bureau and the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau apprehended the three men whom they have positively identified.
Police say forensic evidence placed the three at the scene of the crime alongside other suspects who remain at large.
“The suspects were forensically connected to the crime scene,” the DCI said in a statement, adding that the men had been transported from Molo to Elburgon specifically to carry out the attack on Otieno.
Authorities did not disclose the motive behind the killing but confirmed that investigations are ongoing.
Following the murder, two of the three men fled across the border to Majahida in Tanzania’s Bariadi District.
According to the DCI, Tanzanian authorities pursued the duo, prompting their return to Kenya last Friday, where they were promptly arrested along with their accomplice – the third person of interest.
All three men are scheduled to appear before the Nakuru Chief Magistrate’s Court later today as prosecutors seek custodial orders to hold them as the investigation proceeds.
“Meanwhile, as the investigation continues, detectives are ramping up efforts to bring more suspects to book,” DCI said.
Otieno, 38, was a prominent figure in Molo, where he was known for his activism and community leadership.
His death has sparked widespread calls for justice, with local leaders and human rights groups urging authorities to expedite the investigation.
Detectives say they are intensifying efforts to track down the remaining suspects and have urged the public to provide any information that could assist in the probe.
The murder reignited concerns about rising insecurity in parts of Nakuru County, prompting local authorities to increase patrols and community policing initiatives.
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