Nakuru human rights activists: We will go to the highest court to seek justice for Brian Odhiambo

Human rights activists in Nakuru have expressed concern following the court ruling in the case of Brian Odhiambo's disappearance.

Presiding judge Julius Nangea dismissed the application filed by Elizabeth Auma (Brian Odhiambo's mother) and the Independent Medical Legal Unit (IMLU) to compel the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Nakuru East and the management of Lake Nakuru National Park to produce Brian Odhiambo in court, dead or alive.

The judge stated that Elizabeth Auma and IMLU had failed to prove that Brian was in the custody of the respondents (DCI and Park in Charge Lake Nakuru National Park) for the court to invoke its legal powers to order his production.

This drew mixed reactions from the family, locals and lobby groups who had been following the case closely.

Hussein Khalid, CEO of Vocal Africa, says the ruling sets a dangerous precedent, suggesting that the authorities will feel free to do as they please: if brought to court, they could simply claim that the suspect had run away.

"This was a shocking decision and we disagree with it. We will explore all other legal options, but what we want to emphasise is that Brian must be returned to us, dead or alive," says Mr Khalid.

David Kuria, a human rights defender from Nakuru, also expressed his dissatisfaction with the verdict, claiming that a massive cover-up had surrounded the case from the beginning.

"I was involved in bringing the witnesses to the DCIO and six KWS officers were arrested and later released. We expected these six officers to be brought to court to explain where Brian is. I am deeply disappointed with the verdict," says Mr Kuria.

But Tom Mboya, the director of GAPLINK International, believes the truth will eventually come out.

"We were told to go outside and wait until 11:30, but while we were outside we were informed that the verdict had been delivered. How could the verdict be delivered without the presence of the chief prosecutor and the legal team?" he asks.

"People should remain calm - the truth will come out. We want to encourage Brian's family to have faith that the truth will eventually come out," he says.

Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria says he will pursue the matter to the end to get answers about Brian's whereabouts.

"I don't know who to turn to after today. I have told my constituents to remain calm while we wait for justice. I just hope that this is not a big cover-up like some media outlet claimed some time ago," he says.

According to the MP, there are a lot of questions about how the case was handled, which has left many unsatisfied with the ruling.