John Odinga, a middle-aged man, has been charged with the murder of Cynthia Akinyi, a Form Four student at Kibra Soccer Academy, in a case heard before Lady Justice Chirchir Chebet at the Kakamega High Court.
The court was told that the incident occurred on October 4, 2021, as the deceased was traveling from Nairobi to Kakamega for the holidays. Akinyi’s journey began at the Country Bus terminus in Nairobi, where her aunt, Caroline Wanga, escorted her, paid her fare, and provided her with her uncle David Wanga’s phone number for her arrival at Shianda market in Kakamega County.
Throughout Akinyi’s journey, her aunt maintained contact, and at one point, Akinyi informed her uncle that she was approaching Butere. However, upon her uncle’s arrival at Butere market, he could not locate her. When he called her, Akinyi answered while crying and expressed uncertainty about reaching home. Subsequent calls went unanswered.
Caroline Wanga also attempted to contact Akinyi multiple times without success, finally receiving a text response stating, “I am ok.” Akinyi’s phone was switched off around 11 PM, and all communication ceased.
On October 5, 2021, Akinyi’s uncle reported her disappearance to Mumias Police Station, and the case was referred to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) two days later. A witness testified that an individual on Akinyi’s Facebook page provided a lead in the investigation. The DCI inquired with bodaboda riders at Shianda market, who identified John Odinga as the person last seen with Akinyi on the evening of October 4.
James Shikoli, the owner of the motorcycle used by Odinga, testified that Odinga had possession of the motorcycle that night. The DCI traced and arrested Odinga, discovering Akinyi’s belongings, including six kilograms of sugar, two packets of tea leaves, a mobile phone, SIM cards, and stationery, at his home.
Despite the items found, DNA tests could not be conclusively linked due to the degradation caused by water. Police Constable Mark Too testified, stating, “I conclude that John Odinga was the offender because he was the last person seen with Cynthia, her belongings were found in his house, and so he is the one who killed and dumped her body in River Lusumu.”
Akinyi’s body was discovered in River Lusumu on October 10, 2021, and a post-mortem was conducted at the Kakamega County mortuary. Odinga remains in custody at the Kakamega Maximum Prison as the trial proceeds.
Lady Justice Chebet has scheduled the next hearing for October 16, 2024, when the final witness, a government pathologist, is expected to testify.
