22-year-old Joseph Odhiambo who reportedly faked his kidnapping now says he did it to secure his school fees.
The form four student from Kamunda Secondary School in Awendo, Migori County is alleged to have faked his abduction before making calls to his mother demanding for Ksh20,000 ransom fee.
“Nilikua nafanya hivo ndio nipate school fees,” he claimed.
Police reports indicate that he sent several texts to his mother claiming that his life was in danger if she failed to send the cash.
The mother however did not send the money and the man returned home wearing blood-stained clothes.
Upon return, the mother would later frog-march him to Awendo police station after admitting that his alleged kidnapping was a trick.
In his confession at Awendo police station, Odhiambo disclosed that he had bought blood from a local butchery and sprinkled it on his clothes to make his mother believe he had been harmed by abductors.
Odhiambo who spent four days away said he spent the first night on a maize plantation before shifting to an incomplete building at Ranen for two nights.
Later he visited a friend before finally returning back home.
Grace Otieno, Odhiambo’s mother, has however dismissed her son’s claims saying she did not have any fee arrears.
On his part, Awendo Sub-County Police Commander Cleti Kimaiyo said the matter remains under investigation.
