KWS officer contradicts himself in Brian Odhiambo disappearance case

The fifth accused, Abdulrahman Sudi, whose vehicle is alleged to have played a key role in the operation, took the stand to give his defence, but struggled to offer a consistent account and contradicted himself several times under questioning.

Testifying before Nakuru Senior Principal Magistrate Kipkurui Kibelion, Sudi explained how he had been left guarding a young man for nearly two hours, a man whose description, the court heard, closely matches that given by Odhiambo's brother, mother and wife. He maintained that the person he was guarding was not Brian.

Sudi told the court the suspect's hands had been tied with a rope, contradicting an earlier statement in which he had said the man was handcuffed. He testified that after he escorted the suspect to relieve himself, the man pushed him and disappeared into a nearby forest.

"Niliachwa kulinda mshukiwa na aliniambia anaskia kuenda haja ndogo, niliweka gari kando nikamfungulia mlango na nikamfungua kamba na nikamescort kuenda haja," Sudi told the court.

Under cross-examination, Sudi was unable to explain how a man he had earlier described as weak and exhausted managed to overpower him and flee into the forest, despite the fact that he was armed.

"Wakati alirejea alinigonga kumbo nikaanguka, elbow, kisha akatoka kuingia msituni," he said.

Sudi also testified that his superior, Francis Wachira, was the officer issuing instructions during the operation, which was conducted in the Vietnam and Sewage areas.

The six accused, Francis Wachira, Abdulrahman Sudi, Evans Kimaiyo, Michael Wabukhala, Alexander Lorogoi and Isaac Ochieng, all KWS officers, are facing charges linked to the disappearance of Brian Odhiambo at the shores of Lake Nakuru on January 25, 2025.

The hearing was adjourned and is scheduled to resume on August 24.