The autopsy report of slain Molo activist Richard Otieno has revealed harrowing details about his brutal killing.
Speaking to the press on Friday, January 25, Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor confirmed that Otieno died from severe head injuries caused by a sharp object.
"The late Richard had several severe injuries; there were multiple slash wounds on the back of the head which led to fracture of the skull and extensive bleeding of the brain. There were also some slash wounds on the frontal area of the skull though this one did not fracture the skull and there were also bruises on the face," he said.
Oduor also noted that the examination revealed evidence suggesting that Otieno attempted to defend himself during the attack.
"We also found more bruises on the arm which looked like he was trying to defend himself. From these findings we can say that the late Richard died as a result of severe head injuries which were caused by a sharp object which could either be a panga or an axe used severally on the head," he added.
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Oduor added that DNA and toxicology samples has been collected for further analysis to determine if Otieno was drugged prior to the attack.
"We've taken some samples for analysis because we know that when two people meet in a violent way there's exchange in DNA material. We have taken some samples from the body which can help us see whether we can apprehend people who did it. We've also taken samples for toxicology analysis to see if something was given to him to slow him down prior to him meeting the assailants, he further said.
Otieno was brutally murdered on Saturday night, January 18, near his residence by assailants armed with an axe.
In response to his death, hundreds of residents took to the streets on Sunday morning demanding justice for the mobilizer.
The protesters stormed the mortuary where Otieno's body was held, retrieved it, and marched through Elburgon town, bringing business activities to a standstill.
They expressed frustration over perceived police inaction and rising insecurity in the area.
Otieno was a vocal critic of the government and area MP Kimani Kuria, accusing them of failing to fulfill campaign promises.
Residents reported that Otieno had received threats in recent months due to his outspoken stance on governance and social justice issues.
