Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Monday, January 20, 202,5 called on various security agencies to get to the bottom of what transpired leading to the death of youth leader Richard Raymond Otieno.
In a statement, the former DP challenged security organs and the government to launch a probe and bring the perpetrators of the heinous act that took away the life of the budding leader.
While expressing his sympathies, Gachagua maintained that the sudden death of the youth leader could not go unaccounted for and thus challenged the respective authorities to take precise and urgent action.
“To the family of Raymond Otieno and the people of Molo, I share in your pain and grief. My deepest sympathies to you all.
“As we mourn the death of this promising young man, who was a great human rights defender and champion, we call for justice. His killers must be brought to book come what may. The Government of Kenya cannot afford to sit on the fence on this matter,” Gachagua’s statement read in part.
Reads malice
The former Mathira Member of Parliament pointed an accusing finger at the government of the day claiming that it was tolerating repression.
He argued that most government critics were living on the edge due to abductions and the recent case involving Raymond Otieno which sparked street protests in Molo on Sunday, January 19, 2025.
“The level of political intolerance and repression in our country is reaching unproportionate and alarming levels.
“How can a great Nation like Kenya slip into trenches of a failed State where children and women have no breathing space?” the former Second in Command posed.
By the time of this publication, the National Police Service had not issued a statement detailing what transpired.
Raymond Otieno mourned
His sudden death under mysterious circumstances lead to wild protests in Molo with residents paralysing transport in the area.
Reacting to the news, Molo MP Kuria Kimani described Otieno as a selfless leader who championed issues affecting the less privileged not only in Molo but Nakuru County at large adding that the news about his death came as a shocker to many.
Urging his constituents to remain calm, Kimani further disclosed that he has contacted the Rift Valley Regional Criminal Investigations Officer, the Nakuru County government and Molo security teams and asked them to investigate the matter.
“Unfortunately, the cruel hand of death has robbed us of one of Molo’s true sons whose bravery, steadfastness and courage even in times of adversity shall be missed by all those whose lives he touched in one way or another. In this regard, I have been in contact with the Rift Valley Regional Criminal Investigations Officer, the Nakuru County and Molo security teams and demanded expeditious investigations into this matter,” Kimani wrote on his X account.
“I therefore urge all of us to remain calm and give our investigative bodies time to conduct their investigations and bring the perpetrators to book. I will be issuing a further update as and when we receive more details and shall be following up on this matter until its logical conclusion,” he added.
