Police Arrest Female Suspect as Boyfriend Escapes in Ayieko Murder Probe

Investigators have made progress in solving the abduction and murder of Wells Fargo Human Resources Manager Willis Ayieko.

Ayieko disappeared after attending a funeral in Gem on Friday when he failed to return to his home in Kakamega. His Ford Ranger was subsequently discovered abandoned at a petrol station in Sabatia, Vihiga County. The investigation gained momentum with several key arrests. A female suspect was apprehended near Siaya town following an armed confrontation during which authorities recovered Ayieko's stolen firearm. Her boyfriend considered a primary suspect, escaped with gunshot wounds but authorities later captured Victor Ouma Okoth in Dandora, Nairobi.

Okoth had allegedly used proceeds from the crime to secure and furnish rental accommodation. Legal proceedings are underway, with the Siaya magistrate court granting investigators a 21-day holding period for Okoth pending further inquiry. The suspect is scheduled for a medical evaluation before his November 21 court appearance. The court has also authorized a forensic examination of Okoth's mobile phone and directed Airtel Kenya to provide relevant subscriber information to investigators. Forensic evidence has placed Okoth at the scene of the crime, with analysis revealing his involvement in unauthorized withdrawals from Ayieko's M-Pesa account.

The victim's body was discovered near a stream in Mungowere, Yala, Siaya County, bearing signs of severe trauma. Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor has confirmed that Ayieko succumbed to extensive head injuries, with additional trauma to his face and chest. Surveillance footage captured two individuals abandoning Ayieko's vehicle at the petrol station. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has assembled a joint task force comprising members from Homicide, Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau, and Operations units to lead the investigation.

Security measures have been intensified around Siaya Town, with authorities establishing roadblocks to intercept remaining suspects. The DCI has requested public cooperation, particularly from medical facilities, in reporting individuals seeking treatment for gunshot wounds. The case has garnered significant public attention, with Siaya Governor James Orengo remembering Ayieko as a peaceful and amicable individual. Initial findings suggest robbery as a potential motive, as the perpetrators accessed and withdrew funds from Ayieko's phone. Investigators believe the crime involved a group of six to seven individuals, with three suspects currently in custody.