Six Kenya Wildlife Service rangers have been identified as the last known people to have contact with missing fisherman Brian Odhiambo, the police investigating the case told the court.
Chief Inspector Julius Muhuri on Monday said phone records placed Odhiambo’s phone near the rangers’ devices during the time he is believed to have been apprehended for illegal fishing in Nakuru National Park.
The investigating officer noted that the rangers did not record any arrest or escape of Odhiambo in their occurrence book. Muhuri explained, “When we analyzed the information, we were able to see they were in close proximity with Brian Odhiambo at around 10:00 hours to 11:00 hours. That was the time Brian Odhiambo was reportedly arrested by the said KWS officers.”
Muhuri questioned the claim by one of the suspects that Odhiambo had escaped from a KWS vehicle, noting that there was no official record of such an event.
“The KWS officers that day never booked any suspect that had escaped from their custody or any incident that they had arrested anyone who had escaped. However, we noted in the remarks column there was an entry that was appended there,” he said.
“This confirms they had arrested the said person Brian Odhiambo. This was an afterthought since it was made as a remark, not an incident report.”
The officer also spoke of obstacles during the probe, including delays in accessing crucial information. He was challenged on the use of Odhiambo’s phone, which had his wife’s SIM card.
On whose name the SIM was registered, Muhuri said, “Alvil Okeyo,” adding that this person is not involved in the case. He confirmed the phone has not yet been recovered.
Muhuri further stated, “Evidence that was brought before us indicated actually they know whereabouts of Brian Odhiambo and they have continued to confine him up to date.”
He revealed that 16 rangers took part in the operation targeting illegal fishing on the day Odhiambo disappeared. Following testimony from 15 witnesses, Nakuru Senior Principal Magistrate Kipkurui Kibelion scheduled the next mention of the case for February 16, 2026.
