ADVERT 
The High Court in Siaya has convicted a local businessman and his co-accused in connection with the murder of his younger brother, in a case that has drawn widespread attention for its disturbing allegations of betrayal and premeditation.
Justice David Kemei on Friday found Vincent Siriwo and Chrispine Kennedy Awambo guilty of murdering Jared Ongoro Odhiambo. In his ruling, the judge held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, relying on the testimony of seven witnesses who helped establish the sequence of events leading to the killing.
Justice Kemei determined that Awambo carried out the killing, while Siriwo planned and coordinated the attack, describing the offence as a deliberate and premeditated act.
The court heard that on September 4, 2023, at River Nzoia Bridge in Siranga Sub-location, the two accused, together with other suspects who remain at large, murdered the deceased in what investigators described as a carefully planned assault.
A key development in the case came after boda boda rider Michael Omondi was arrested while in possession of the victim’s mobile phone. Omondi later became a state witness and provided crucial testimony that helped unravel the murder plot.
He told the court that Awambo had hired him on the day of the killing. Following the incident, Awambo allegedly confessed to the murder before returning to Siriwo’s business premises, where Siriwo is said to have paid him KSh1,000 and instructed him to remain silent.
Omondi further testified that Awambo later gave him the deceased’s phone as security for a KSh1,000 loan. Detectives traced the device, leading to Omondi’s arrest and ultimately exposing the wider conspiracy.
The prosecution maintained that the evidence clearly linked the accused to the murder, a position the court upheld in its judgment.
Siriwo and Awambo remain in custody and are scheduled to be sentenced on July 3, 2026.
The case has shocked residents of Siaya County, underscoring the tragic consequences of family disputes escalating into violence and highlighting the importance of forensic evidence and witness testimony in the pursuit of justice.
