Police report that one of the main suspects in the murder of Wells Fargo HR manager Willis Ayieko had a history of violent robberies, including the fatal shooting of an Mpesa agent in Kisumu on January 27, 2024. The father of the deceased suspect confirmed his identity as Robert Wakolo Okoth, who also went by aliases George Oduor Okoth and Kim.
A national ID retrieved from police records and a report from the National Registration Bureau (NRB) confirmed the father’s statement. Okoth, who was killed in a police operation, had been found with a Smith and Wesson pistol. He was ambushed by detectives at Mulberry Guest House near Kisumu National Polytechnic after previously escaping a police chase that left a female passenger fatally injured.
Okoth, originally from the Rai area in Nyamasaria, Kisumu County, was linked by the DCI Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau to a string of violent crimes. He had shot Mpesa agent Grace Awino Odera on January 27 at Kibuye market in Kisumu. During the incident, one suspect was arrested, and an AK-47 rifle—previously stolen from a Ugandan police officer—was recovered along with a Toyota Axio used by the suspects, though Okoth managed to evade arrest.
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On May 3, 2024, detectives raided Okoth’s home in Nyamasaria, recovering another AK-47 rifle, a magazine, and 36 rounds of ammunition. While Okoth escaped, his 17-year-old brother, a suspected accomplice, was arrested and charged. He was also wanted by Kondele police for robbery with violence and possession of ammunition.
Police now believe Okoth and his associates were involved in Ayieko’s murder after detaining him overnight in a house in Gem. A resident reported that Ayieko was held there, and investigators identified a spot where his head was struck.
One suspect, believed to be Okoth’s brother, Victor Okoth Ouma, was arrested in Dandora, Nairobi, and brought to Siaya Law Courts on October 30. Investigators were granted 21 days to detain him as they continue their investigation. Forensic evidence placed Ouma at the crime scene, and records indicate he made transactions using Ayieko’s mobile phone, withdrawing money from his account.
Following Ouma’s arrest, police set an ambush for other suspects, leading to a dramatic shootout that resulted in the arrest of two women, one of whom later died. Ayieko’s body was later discovered in a stream in Gem, Siaya County. He had gone missing on October 18 after attending a funeral in Gem. His vehicle was found abandoned at a petrol station in Sabatia, Vihiga County.
Ayieko, who had intended to spend the night at home, is believed to have been abducted and killed by unknown individuals. His body was found with his hands handcuffed behind his back, and his eyes and tongue had been gouged out. Police later recovered his pistol, which had been stolen on the day of his murder.
