Top Aids researcher murdered

By Mangoa Mosota

 An acclaimed HIV/Aids researcher was murdered in Kisumu as insecurity in the lakeside town rises.

Dr Joseph Odhiambo of the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) was killed by three gangsters in Tom Mboya Estate on Saturday night.

Odhiambo, a senior technical advisor for CDC’s Global Aids Programme, had a deep cut on the head.

The gang armed with clubs and pangas drove the deceased to his residence and for about ten minutes beat him to death.

“I heard some commotion and then went to the roof of the house. It was horrific as I watched them beat Odhiambo and the security guard,” said Calvin Omanya, a tenant in the estate. Added Omanya: “Two men pulled him from his car, while the third beat the guard.”

He said he called a police officer who came after ten minutes. Paul Oronge, the caretaker of the building, said the deceased had a deep cut on the head and the gang left the body at the parking lot.

They then drove his car and abandoned it about 300 metres away in Obunga.

Useful leads

Mr Oronge, whose house is next to the sentry, said he was watching news at 9pm when a scuffle outside attracted his attention.

“When I opened the door, I was hit with club and immediately retreated. I locked the door,” he said.

Oronge said Odhiambo lived on the ground floor alone since April, as his family is in Nairobi.

On Sunday, Kisumu OCPD Musa Kongoli said they have useful leads on the killing.

“This is purely murder since nothing was stolen. We will soon make arrests,” said Mr Kongoli, as he denied neighbours’ reports there were automated teller machine (ATM) bank withdrawal slips found on the deceased.

One of the neigbours said there were two ATM slips found on his body of Sh50,000 each. The withdrawals were made at around 7pm.

Odhiambo was a specialist in respiratory diseases, with close to 20 years experience.

He also served on several boards in the ministries of Public Health and Medical Services.