The Local diver, ‘Nicholas Okero Okite’, who helped the police trace out the unknown dead bodies from River Yala, has gone into hiding, after alleged threats to end his life.
The young man has claimed to have helped police to recover around 26 bodies from the river in 2021.
As per the human rights group, Haki Africa, the man has since received continuous threats from the police, and even police seized his phone.
According to Nicholas, due to continuous threats, he is suffering a lot, including unable to sleep properly at night following a tip-off by a police officer in Yala warning him to be careful with his life.
Furthermore, he stated, “I was called by a Directorate of Criminal Investigations officer in Yala that the homicide boss wanted to meet me. Last Friday, the boss was supposed to pay me Sh5,000 for the current body I found from river Yala.”
“When I arrived at the DCI office in Yala, I was imprisoned from 8 am to around 4:30 pm, and my phone seized, and even they did not permit me to smoke a cigarette,” he added.
Okero says that the homicide officer became aggressive and forced him to record a statement where he needed to explain his job.
He said they claimed that I was being suspect of hiding bodies in Ndanu falls. They forced me to record a statement in which I needed to explain my role in the mystery of dead bodies. One police officer threatened me that is why I decided to go and hide.
According to Siaya County Commander Michael Muchiri, the diver was working well and very helpful with the police, so there is reason to threaten him.
As per the recent survey, two bodies have so far been identified.
However, human rights groups are however suspicious about the involvement of the police in the deaths.