Zadock Angira and Robert Ochoro

Detectives were yesterday closing in on some suspects after investigations into the disappearance of Kisii-based policewoman Constable Eunice Achieng pointed to possible murder.

At the same time, detectives have established that the missing officer’s former husband, John Odiango, committed suicide on Friday using a shuka  that belonged to her. 

According to a police report seen by People Daily, Owuor is directly linked to the disappearance and possible murder of the missing cop.

“The former husband, John Odiango, is directly linked to the disappearance of Constable Eunice Achieng, the missing police officer, and investigation is pointing to possible murder of the police officer by him,” the report.

“Investigation is leading to certain suspects who might have conspired with the former husband.

They are being pursued and soon they shall be brought to book,” the report adds.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have also established that Achieng’s phone was switched off on July 30, the same day she was lured by her former husband to Rongo Township in Migori County to collect some Sh250,000 he owed her.

Achieng, according to the police report, had separated from Odiango after he allegedly refused to refund her the Sh250,000, among other domestic issues. She proceeded to marry Elly Olima in December, 2019.  

“Her former husband, Odiango, lured her that he got the money which led to the meeting in Rongo on 30/7/2020 at around 9.58 am,” the report. 

According to the report, Achieng’s phone was switched off immediately she met the deceased, until the following day at around 2.35 pm when messages were sent from the phone to her maid asking her to take the children to her parents’ home in Migori county.

Same phone

“The same phone also sent abusive messages to the missing officer’s elder sister,  Janet Ogal, and the current husband, Akoko,” the report.

According to the report, both Akinyi and Olima tried to call back but the phone was not answered, prompting them to report her disappearance to her work place at Nyanchwa Police station   on August 4.  

The following day, Owuor, Achieng’s former husband committed suicide behind their homestead in Ragak village, Rachuonyo South sub-district, Homa Bay county.

“We were hopeful of finding her alive but the chances are dwindling. We are optimists, but we are realists as well,” a senior police officer based at the headquarters said.

The Kitutu Central Sub-County Police Commander Tom Achiya said the missing officer sought permission on July 30 to attend to private matters at home and was expected back at work on August 2.

She, however, failed to return, neither could she be reached on phone or traced to her house in Kisii Town.

Her seniors never suspected anything and even thought of reprimanding her when she reported back to work.

“We contemplated taking departmental disciplinary action against her when she failed to report on duty,” Achiya said.

 “The missing officer’s relatives came to the station to look for her on August 4 and met relatives of her estranged husband who were also looking for him,” Achiya said. 

Odiango, a businessman in Bomet, had travelled to meet the officer but never returned to Bomet.

There were reports that he was seen in Oyugis Town behaving funnily and the family went to look for him there and at the hospital in vain, only to find his body on Wednesday August 5.

 “It is unfortunate that Odiango, who was key in the investigations, committed suicide.

Our missing officer was not armed when she left the station,” the police commander said.

A preliminary investigations report and analysis of the officer’s call data by the DCI detectives had indicated that she might have travelled to various places including Kisii, Matisi in Kitale Town, Rongo and Kilgoris.

“If she is the one who had the phone, it is believed that she travelled to those towns.

We are, however, yet to establish that,” an officer privy to the investigations told People Daily on Sunday.