The father of police officer Caroline Kangogo yesterday refuted claims his daughter was executed.

In an interview with journalists, Kangogo’s father, Barnaba Korir, a former police officer, said chances are his daughter took her own life, and refuted reports that she could have been killed elsewhere and her body planted in the family compound.

“Sitaki watu kusema kuwa aliuawa, hiyo ni uongo kabisa mimi mwenyewe nimethibitisha kuwa alijiua mwenyewe (I don’t want this issue of people saying that she was murdered, that is a pure lie.

I have personally checked and established that she took her own life),” said Korir, while announcing that she will be buried on Saturday.

Her body is lying at the Iten Referral Hospital mortuary. Kangogo was found dead inside a bathroom at her parents’ home in Nyawa village, Tambach in Elgeyo Marakwet county in what police termed as suicide. 

Elgeyo Marakwet Police Commander Patrick Lumumba said the late cop did not speak to any of her family members before killing herself.

According to police in Iten, Kangogo’s body was discovered by her mother at around 8am on Friday morning. The family says no one heard any gunshot sounds.

For close to two weeks, Kangogo had eluded security operatives, who were looking for her in connection with the murder of police constable John Ogweno and Juja businessman Peter Ndwiga.

Kangogo hit the headlines two weeks ago when Ogweno, who was attached to the Nakuru Central Police Station, was found dead inside his car at Kasarani Police Line in Nakuru town with a gunshot wound on his head.

Kangogo immediately went underground and only resurfaced in Juja, Kiambu county on the same day, in the company of a male companion.

A police signal stated that she  had spent the night with Ndwiga, whose body was found at a hotel room in Kiambu.

The two had booked room number 107 at the Hotel Dedamax at 4pm where they spent the night.

Suicide theory

Kangogo’s death has been received with mixed reactions, with several leaders disputing the suicide theory and claiming that security agents could have executed her.

Many have questioned how she could have travelled all the way from Nairobi to her village undetected, only to take her own life.

Led by Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula and Law Society of Kenya  President Nelson Havi, the leaders poked holes in the statement by police that Kangogo took her own life.

“Corporal Caroline Kangogo is dead from an alleged suicide. This should not bring a closure to investigations as to who killed the two men associated with her.

We might never know her side of the story! In the complex world of crime, there could be a third force!” Wetang’ula said.

Havi on the other hand faulted the media for poor analysis of the whole matter noting: “The media has been conscripted by DCI to run with the cover up story “Caroline Kangogo commits suicide.”

Who was the witness? When was the autopsy done? I remember telling the special crimes boss on Tuesday, “I am sure you guys will eventually tell us that you found her dead,” Havi said.

Havi’s statement comes after the LSK hired veteran lawyer Dr John Khaminwa to represent Kangogo when she was on the loose.

“This lady did not commit suicide. Gun placed in hand unlike where it would be because of the recoil. Blood splatter and drag would not be at the front. Shows she was brought there and left to bleed.

Placing the cover on the head? The yellow Jersey still?” added lawyer Cliff Ombeta.