SIAYA, Kenya — The prosecution in the murder trial of former Wells Fargo human resources manager, Willis Ayieko, intensified its case this week as ten witnesses testified before Siaya High Court Judge David Kemei.
The two-day proceedings provided a significant step in unraveling the complex circumstances surrounding Ayieko’s death, whose body was discovered in October 2024 in a stream along the Siaya–Kakamega border.
Among the first to testify was the sister of the first accused, Victor Ouma Okoth. She detailed her brother’s troubling behavior shortly before the murder, including an incident in which he asked her to register a mobile phone number using her identification documents, raising concerns about his potential involvement in illicit activities.
The father of the accused also took the stand, describing the erratic and dangerous conduct of his elder son, who police said was later fatally shot in Kisumu during a confrontation with officers pursuing suspects linked to Ayieko’s killing.
He recounted a chilling episode when his elder son returned home armed with an AK-47 rifle, threatening to kill a neighbour he suspected had informed police about his brother.
Forensic evidence formed a central part of the prosecution’s case. DCI forensic analyst Chief Inspector Kieti presented a detailed reconstruction of the crime scene, guiding the court through the discovery of Ayieko’s body, the condition of the scene, and postmortem procedures.
Kieti submitted a comprehensive forensic report covering the scene, an alleged drinking joint where the accused had gathered, drag marks, the positioning of the body, and other key findings linking the suspects to the murder.
The prosecution also sought to establish financial links between the accused and Ayieko. An M-Pesa agent testified that one of the indicted withdrew Sh 145,000 using a mobile number registered under Ayieko’s name, presenting an ID card bearing the deceased’s details. CCTV footage from the transaction was also submitted.
Local authorities gave additional testimony. The Kisa West Location Chief described being alerted to a missing person report, only to be informed hours later that a body had been found in a stream.
Willis Ayieko’s brother, Aggrey Onyango, later identified the deceased. Wagai Police Station OCS, Chief Inspector Kanano Elema, told the court that police intercepted a Toyota Axio linked to the suspects, recovering a pistol and 11 rounds of ammunition, which forensic tests confirmed belonged to Ayieko.
The prosecution team, led by Joyce Mumu, Soita China, and Mercy Mutheu, indicated that further witnesses will be called to establish a clear, uninterrupted chain of events connecting the accused to Ayieko’s death.
The next hearing has been scheduled for 23rd and 24th February 2026.
