The troubled life of Molo activist Richard Otieno
The late Richard Otieno.
The mysterious death of Molo-based activist Richard Otieno has shaken many to their core, and the events that followed have attracted national attention, with political leaders and even human rights groups condemning the killing of the 31-year-old.
The people of Molo made their feelings known by staging protests condemning the heinous act and demanding justice for the death of the activist's.
According to the deceased's lawyer, Rosalinda Wamaitha, the deceased's troubles started around June last year during the GenZ protests.
"It all started during the GenZ protests when he was accused of being the perpetrator of what happened at Kuria Kimani and he was arraigned with other people. I stood with him along with the other people who were arrested and the court gave them reasonable bail conditions and bail," she says.
The lawyer continues: "Later, the state had to withdraw the case because the complainant never appeared in court and no witnesses were called in court. After the Gen Z protests. After that incident, he started to speak out openly."
According to Ms Wamaitha, Mr Otieno was assaulted by two young men in November and reported the incident to the police.
There was even a court case but unfortunately the two young men were not charged as they had expected and were released on bail.
The lawyer laments that even before his death he was still receiving threats and he would post them on social media telling his close friends that he was being threatened and these were in the form of screenshots that he would share showing the threats that he was receiving.
In an interview with the Nation Richard Otieno's sister Roseline concurs with the lawyer's sentiments saying the deceased rubbed some political heavyweights the wrong way and received threats to his life which he shared on social media.
Otieno, alias 'Molo President', was attacked by armed gangsters as he walked home from a club in Elburgon township where he had gone to watch an English Premier League match a few minutes after midnight.