Police hunt killer of wife and children

Jacob Owiti | Nation A picture of Ms Pamela Achieng Orawo, whose body and those of her three children were found with deep cuts at their house in Nyalenda slums in Kisumu on Sunday.

By STELLA CHERONO scherono@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Monday, August 30 2010 at 22:00
In Summary

Boda-boda operator had threatened to kill his wife and children for disturbing him

Residents of Nyalenda slums in Kisumu are still shocked by the killing of a woman and her three children purportedly by a man they called their father for six years.

Hundreds of people continued flocking to the home to view the scene of the murders that were committed on Saturday night.

Police in Kisumu have launched a manhunt for the suspect, Mr James Ochieng’, who worked as a boda-boda operator in Kisumu.

According to a neighbour, Mr Peter Okech, the suspect inherited Ms Orawo in 2006 and had been living with her since then.

“I saw the couple fetching water yesterday (Saturday) night after the children arrived with their mother from a funeral, but I did not hear them quarrel,” Mr Okech said.

“Pamela has lived here for over 13 years and the man joined her when he inherited her after the death of her first husband,” another neighbour said.

The neighbour said that the couple lived in harmony until three months ago when they started having regular quarrels.

“There is a day Ochieng’ threatened Ms Orawo, saying that he will kill her and her children because they were disturbing him,” the neighbour claimed.

Mr Samson Odhiambo, a brother of Ms Orawo’s first husband, said that Mr Ochieng’ had inherited Pamela together with her children and that the couple had no children together.

“All of the three children were my brother’s biological children,” Mr Odhiambo said.

“Neighbours have even told me that he had threatened to burn them all,” he said.

A boda-boda operator who did not want to be named, said that Mr Ochieng’ was a quiet man who worked hard.

“I do not know if he had issues with his family and I did not even know where he lived,” he said.

The bodies were found lying on the floor on Sunday morning by a neighbour.

Kisumu OCPD John Mwinzi said that the body of the teenage girl indicated that she had been raped.

“We will not rest until the suspect has been arrested,” Mr Mwinzi said.

Police found a machete suspected to have been used in committing the murders.