Military officer found dead in manhole in Nakuru

Shocked residents of Zaburi Estate in Nakuru peeping inside an open manhole where a millitary officer was found killed and dumped inside on June 29,2016. The officer identified has Sabaya Ole Sololo is said to have left his home on Tuesday eveing at around 3pm. The body was taken to Nakuru county Mortuary. (PHOTO: KIPSANG JOSEPH/ STANDARD)

A military officer was found dead in an open manhole in Zaburi estate.

The officer, a major with the Department of Defence in Nairobi, is said to have left his home in Kiamunyi Estate at around 3pm on Tuesday only to be found dead yesterday.

Confirming the death, Kiamunyi Chief Wilson Maraga said the body of Ben Sabaya ole Sololo was discovered by a pedestrian along the Kabarak-Nakuru road.

The chief, together with members of the ‘Nyumba Kumi’ initiative and police officers, retrieved the body from the manhole.

“I received information at around 7am from a man who said he had spotted a body in the manhole while waiting to board a matatu to Nakuru town,” said Mr Maraga.

No injury

He said the body had no signs of physical injury but there were traces of vomit in the manhole where it was found.

“We are not able to tell at this point if he was dumped already dead into the hole or if he fell in by himself,” added Maraga.

The manhole is approximately 400m from the officer’s home.

Evans Sure, a neighbour, said the major had been at home all week before his death.

“Sololo was a calm person with whom we always interacted whenever he was off duty. It is sad to have lost him,” said Mr Sure. Another neighbour, Moses Rono, said the officer was a good neighbour who mingled freely with locals.

The body was taken to the county mortuary for a postmortem.

County Police Commandant Hassan Barua said investigations into the officer’s death were underway.