Search For Kenyan Murderer Targets Thailand

[sriracha john]

Search for CDF manager’s killer targets Thailand

A month after the killing of the Saboti Constituency Development Fund (CDF) manager, police are yet to trace the prime suspect in the killing with reports that he may have fled to Thailand.

The suspect is said to have joined his relative in the Asian country after esecaping through Tanzania with the help of friends.

Mr Joshua Orina was abducted and murdered and his body dumped in a sugarcane plantation at Nzoia Sugar Company, Bungoma East District.

On Sunday, a senior CID officer from Nairobi said police were also trying to establish whether it was true that the man might have fled to Thailand.

“We are liaising with the Interpol officers and we shall not relent until the man is arrested,” the senior officer told the Daily Nation.

Two weeks ago, some officers from Kitale Police Station were dispatched to the borders of Uganda and Tanzania after the suspect was spotted around the area. The officers had trailed the man around two border towns of Namanga and Busia where it is believed the suspect was seen as he tried to cross over.

Earlier, the national vice-chairman of National Council of Churches of Kenya NCCK called for an independent inquiry into the murder of Mr Orina. Mr Henry Mukhwaja urged the Government to send an independent team to probe the killing.

The council’s call comes in the wake of protest from local residents over police failure to release the picture of the prime suspect in Mr Orina’s killing.

- Daily Nation (Nairobi, Kenya) / April 21, 2008

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Additional background on the case:

The East African Standard (Nairobi) / March 28, 2008

Missing CDF Manager Found Dead in Plantation

The Saboti Constituency Development Fund (CDF) manager who went missing a week ago has been murdered.

The decomposing body of Joshua Orina was discovered at the Nuclear Sugar Plantation estate of Nzoia Sugar Company in Bungoma at 2pm on Thursday.

Two suspects who were arrested on Wednesday in Kitale led the police to the site. Kitale deputy OCPD, Mr Eliud Okello, said: "The search team led by the deputy DCIO, Mr David Kitur, collected the body." Four spent cartridges fired from an American Colt pistol were also recovered.

The murder sparked protests from local leaders, including Saboti MP, Mr Eugene Wamalwa. "They have killed an innocent man to cover up their evil deeds. We demand that the police arrest those behind the killing," demanded Wamalwa.

Orina was abducted last Wednesday in Kitale town after a senior CDF official summoned him. According to the police, the suspects were arrested after CCTV cameras captured them withdrawing money from Orina's bank accounts in Bungoma and Kitale.

The two told the police that a local politician and a former CDF official who has since disappeared had hired them. One of the suspects is the politician's bodyguard.

The police raided the home of the politician, but did not find him. They, however, towed a car after the suspects allegedly disclosed that it was used in the killing.

Orina was said to have been investigating the loss of Sh100 million * 51 Million Baht * from the Saboti Constituency Development Fund.

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The East African Standard (Nairobi) / April 1, 2008

Suspect in CDF Chief's Death Goes Into Hiding

A Government firearm could have been used to kill the Saboti Constituency Development Fund Manager, Joshua Orina.

Police in Kitale said they were investigating reports that the prime suspect in Orina's murder used a Government firearm. The man, a former CDF official who is on the run, had been given a revolver because he was a top official in community policing in Rift Valley Province.

Local police boss, Mr Bernard Muli, and the deputy Criminal Investigation Officer, Mr David Kitur, said they were conducting investigation to establish whether the suspect used the gun or another one to kill Orina. The police also said they had sent some bullets recovered from Orina's body to Nairobi for ballistic tests.

A post-mortem report showed that the CDF manager was shot more than ten times. It also showed that Orina was tortured by his abductors.

Police Commissioner, Maj Gen Hussein Ali, addresses the press after opening a five-day workshop at the Leopard Beach Hotel in Mombasa, on Monday.

Police in Kitale gave the fugitive suspect one day to surrender or risk being shot on sight. "We are giving him a chance to go to the police or else he might face the indignity of being shot when we find him. This man is armed and dangerous," warned a senior police officer in Kitale.

The police said they had arrested eight suspects in connection with the murder. Those arrested include a former deputy mayor of Kitale municipality, a councillor in Saboti and a wife of the prime suspect. But the police are treating them as fringe suspects who may be released after interrogation.

Their principal suspect is the CDF official, who was implicated by two suspects caught withdrawing money from Orina's bank accounts. Other reports say that detectives had visited the scene of the killing. Our sources also told us that the two suspects showed the police the car wash used by the prime suspect to clean blood from his vehicle after transporting the manager's body. The vehicle was impounded and is held at Kitale Police Station.

In another twist, the suspect released 20 names of Government officials, whom he claimed participated in squandering the Saboti CDF cash. The names, which were allegedly forwarded to the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, included those of senior officials in Trans Nzoia and other districts.

Meanwhile, leaders in Saboti, led by Milimani Ward Councillor, Mr Hebert Wabaye, have called for the speedy arrest of the prime suspect. Wabaye also asked the national management of CDF to start an independent audit of the kitty to bring to book those implicated in misuse and possible death of the manager. He also wants people implicated in the looting of the CDF money investigated.

"We understand that the suspect has given out names of those he conspired with. With this in mind, we are calling for an independent investigation of the matter," he said. The councillor said it was unfortunate that they had lost somebody who was out to fight corruption in the community.