NAKURU, Kenya — A police investigator has linked six Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers to the disappearance of fisherman Brian Odhiambo, who vanished under mysterious circumstances after allegedly being arrested inside Nakuru National Park.
Chief Inspector Julius Muhuri, the lead investigator, told the Nakuru Law Courts that forensic analysis of mobile phone data placed the six rangers at the same location as Odhiambo at the time he was reportedly apprehended for illegal fishing.
“When we analyzed the information, we were able to see they were in close proximity with Brian Odhiambo at around 10:00 hours to 11:00 hours. That was the time Brian Odhiambo was reportedly arrested by the said KWS officers,” Muhuri testified.
He further revealed that despite claims by one of the suspects that Odhiambo had escaped from a KWS vehicle after his arrest, there was no corresponding record in the occurrence book to support the report.
“The KWS officers that day never booked any suspect that had escaped from their custody or any incident that they had arrested anyone who had escaped,” Muhuri said, adding that an entry later made in the remarks column appeared to be “an afterthought” intended to cover up the arrest.
The investigating officer also accused KWS of frustrating investigations by delaying access to critical records. “We were only allowed to access information four days after we made a formal request,” he said.
Muhuri faced questions from defence lawyers over inconsistencies in the ownership of the phone attributed to Odhiambo, which was registered under the name Alvil Okeyo, his wife. The officer confirmed that the phone has not been recovered but maintained that the evidence gathered so far strongly implicates the rangers.
“Evidence that was brought before us indicated they actually know the whereabouts of Brian Odhiambo and they have continued to confine him up to date,” Muhuri told the court.
He further testified that a total of 16 KWS rangers were deployed in the anti-illegal fishing operation on the day Odhiambo was last seen alive.
The case, which has drawn attention from human rights groups concerned about alleged enforced disappearances, has so far heard testimony from 15 witnesses.
Nakuru Senior Principal Magistrate Kipkurui Kibelion directed that the case be mentioned on February 16, 2026, for further hearing.
The disappearance of Odhiambo adds to a growing list of unresolved cases involving security officers and missing persons in Kenya, which have prompted repeated calls for accountability and police reform.
