A family in Gem Wagai subcounty, whose daughter disappeared for two weeks, only for her remains to be discovered in a thicket, is calling on the government to expedite investigations that will bring to justice those behind the incident.
According to family members, Catherine Akinyi, a grade four pupil at Kayieye Primary School, left home on February 9, 2025 to go watch a football game at the nearby Nyagondo Primary School grounds, never to return home.
The head of the family, Jerry Oduor said a two-week search ended with the discovery of her remains in a thicket, a few metres from their home.
Speaking at their home in Nyagondo, Oduor described the scene as horrible; only the skeleton and the girl’s clothes and shoes were recovered.
Fighting to hold back tears, a weary Oduor said preliminary investigations in the neighbourhood have revealed that the 12-year-old girl was last seen talking to a man only identified as “Ras” in the evening as her colleagues returned home after the match.
He said that some unscrupulous people tried to capitalize on his family’s agony during the search, making calls while masquerading as police officers based in Kilgoris alleging that his daughter has been found and was in their custody at Kilgoris police station.
“We suspected them and reported the matter to Wagai police station,” he said, adding that there was need to investigate the number and how they came to know that his daughter was lost.
The deceased’s elder sister, Mercy Atieno called on well-wishers and the government to come to the aid of the humble family.
Atieno said that the family was in need of funds to cater for DNA tests and funeral costs.
“When we took the remains at Siaya County Referral hospital mortuary, we were informed that we will need more than Sh35,000 for DNA that is mandatory before burial,” she said.
By Philip Onyango
