Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have taken swift action in the case of Tom Fred Mokaya Osinde, a missing former Treasury official, as they intensify their efforts to uncover the truth surrounding his disappearance.
In a dramatic turn of events, two workers at Osinde's residence in Ngata, Nakuru County, have been arrested, while investigators conducted a thorough search of the property spanning over seven acres.
Rongai sub-county criminal investigations officer, Donatta Atieno, shed light on the ongoing investigation.
"We have conducted a thorough search of a section of the expansive 10-acre farm where Mokaya's residence stands. We covered about seven acres. This is part of the probe into the disappearance of the ex-Treasury official," Atieno said.
Atieno further revealed that the arrested workers are being investigated for the offence of abduction and have been remanded in custody at the Menengai Police Station.
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As part of the investigation, more than five mobile phones were confiscated from the employees present when Osinde went missing. These devices have been sent for forensic analysis to establish any potential communication with the missing individual.
Additionally, investigators discovered two vandalized electricity switches in the upper upstairs of Osinde's house, raising questions as to whether they were damaged before or after his disappearance.
According to Atieno, efforts to reach Osinde through his mobile phone have proved futile as it does not go through.
"His phone is not going through. It was switched off most probably in Nakuru hours after he left for his Nyamira home. Our agenda today was the probability of how we can get this person dead or alive. We are also looking if we can get a gravesite then we can get a breakthrough. We also looked at the septic tank," she said.
Tom Fred Mokaya Osinde, brother to the late Ambassador Ken Osinde, held significant positions in Kenya's government.
He served as the country's ambassador to Germany from 2010 to 2014 and later as chief of staff at the Harambee House Annex. Regrettably, he passed away in October 2021 after a brief illness.
The search for Mokaya's whereabouts has expanded to his residences in Ngata and Nyamira.
A dedicated team of DCI officers, including experts from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB), Rift Valley region, and Rongai sub-county, conducted an extensive search on the property.
However, despite their efforts, nothing substantial was recovered during the four-hour search, prompting the detectives to postpone further investigation until the following day.
Reassuring the public and the family, the senior detective emphasized, "The victim is a public figure. Our core value is to protect life and property. That's why we are out to ensure that we are going to search and trace his whereabouts whether dead or alive until we get satisfied. Right now, we cannot say he is dead."
The detective also expressed confidence in the ongoing investigation, stating, "We have several avenues, we have expert leads, and we are still combining together with the assistance from officers from DCI headquarters, county, and my office as the head of investigations. We assure the public and family that we are going to ensure that if at all there are people involved, they are brought to book."
The missing former Treasury official was reportedly travelling from his Ngata residence in Nakuru to his rural home in Borabu, Nyamira County when he vanished.
According to his family, the last contact they had with him was on June 23 when he left home in his vehicle.
On June 22, a vandalized black Land Cruiser LC300 belonging to Mokaya was discovered abandoned along the Sikawa-Enoosaen road in Trans Mara West, Narok County.
The missing car's number plates, battery, and radio were missing, further suggesting foul play.
Osinde, who studied economics at the University of Nairobi, had a successful career in the Treasury Department before venturing into business.
As his family continues to search for answers, they have appealed to the public for assistance, urging anyone with information about Osinde's whereabouts to come forward or file a report at the nearest police station.
The police have recorded statements from the concerned family members and are committed to uncovering the truth behind this perplexing disappearance.
As the investigation unfolds, the hopes of finding Tom Fred Mokaya Osinde alive remain alive.
The dedication and expertise of the detectives, supported by forensic analysis and collaboration between different law enforcement units, offer a glimpse of optimism in the quest for answers surrounding the missing former Treasury official.
