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Missing friends were abducted in Kitengela, detectives reveal

Tuesday, April 27th, 2021 00:00 | By
Mavoko Law courts.

The four friends, who have been missing for more than a week now, were abducted outside a restaurant in Kitengela, Kajiado county, it has emerged.

Detectives investigating the matter have established abductors lay in wait for the four as they had lunch at the restaurant and pounced on them once they stepped out of the eatery on Monday, April 19.

Elijah Obuong, 35, Benjamin Amache Imbai (30), Brian Oduor (36) and Jack Anyango Ochieng (37), went missing after their vehicle, a Toyota Mark X registration number KCQ 715C, was blocked by two Toyota Prado vehicles as they left the restaurant. 

The four friends were then forced into the Prados by their abductors before being driven away, said the detectives.

Former convict

According to the detectives, the four had arrived at the restaurant on the main Nairobi-Namanga road and ordered drinks. 

“They were last seen leaving the entertainment joint at 3pm towards the facility’s parking bay, where they had left their vehicle,” he said.

Eight days later, they are yet to be heard from nor traced. Sources yesterday told People Daily that security agencies were concerned about the involvement of some of the members of this group that included a former convict who had served an eight-year jail term.

The gang leader was identified Brian Oduor, popularly known as “Kompe”. One of the missing men, Amache Imbai, had cases pending before Mavoko and Kibera Law Courts.

His last appearance at Mavoko Court — MCCR/978/2019 — was on December 10, 2020.

Imbai had also been arrested last year after a gang broke into  a vehicle at a car yard on Ngong road in Nairobi and stole cash.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Imbai was part of a notorious gang that on January 11, 2020 stole Sh900,000 from the vehicle. 

The seven-man gang was arrested on January 14, barely three days later, by Kilimani DCI detectives who also recovered three vehicles believed to have been used during the crime.

The gang had trailed the victim from Kenya Commercial Bank Buruburu to the yard where he intended to purchase a car. 

The victim parked the car, safely locked it and left the money inside as he was being shown around.

“The gangsters, who posed as customers, parked their vehicle next to the victim’s car before breaking in and disappearing with the money, but were caught on CCTV cameras,” the DCI said.

Detectives analysed the footage and launched a manhunt. Besides Imbai, other suspected members of the gang included Boaz Otieno Owino alias “Baba Fabian”, Duncan Wachira Gakungu alias “Dante”, William Kamau Maina alias “Michuki”, Jacqueline Njoki Mwangi alias “Lady Boss” and Ian Kibe Kinyua.

“The gang has been operating in major towns using different motor vehicles, some of which are hired and guised with fake number plates,” the DCI said.

The DCI warned: “We caution members of the public to beware of such criminals even as we heighten our detective bars to paralyse their efforts.”

Following reports that the body of a middle-aged man had been found dumped around Mai Mahiu, the family members of Obuon’g went to Naivasha but could not identify his body.

Mystery into the four men’s disappearance further deepened yesterday with revelation that last year, three friends of Oduor, a car dealer, also went missing and have not been traced to date.

They were also close to another man who was also wanted by DCI Ongata Rongai for a series of crimes.

Received a call

Victor Jakambare, also went missing last year before his body and that of Kevin Oliech were found in Kinale forest, Kiambu County.

Jakambare, who once vied for the Upper Savanna Ward seat, was also a close friend to a city legislator.

According to the police and family members, the four missing men were very close friends. Monica Wanjiru Mugo wife of Ochien’g says her husband left their home at Donholm phase 8 at 7 am and said he was going to meet his friend Oduor in town. Later at around 4pm, she tried reaching the husband but his phone was off.

“It is not usual for my husband to spend the night out without notifying me,” Wanjiru told People Daily.

She said that she later received a call from Obuong’s relative inquiring about his whereabouts, claiming that he had left together with her husband.

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