Family’s desperate search ends in heartbreak as body of missing teacher discovered at morgue
The search for Maricus Owino, a Mathematics teacher at Lela Secondary School, has ended in tragedy after his body was discovered at a morgue in Kisumu County — over a week after he mysteriously disappeared.
Owino vanished on October 31 under disturbing circumstances, sparking widespread concern among family, colleagues, and the broader Kisumu community. The teacher, described as humble and passionate about his work, had earlier survived a hit-and-run motorcycle accident near Kisumu Boys Gate, close to Aga Khan Hospital.
According to his wife, Scholastica Achieng Odhiambo, the 38-year-old teacher sustained a head injury but was conscious when good Samaritans rushed him to Kisumu County Referral Hospital (KCRH) for treatment. However, what unfolded next remains one of the most confusing and heartbreaking episodes of the ordeal.
Confusion at the Hospital
Upon arrival at KCRH, witnesses say there was a heated exchange between the individuals who brought Owino in and the hospital staff. Reports indicate that no one could clearly explain his identity, and those who escorted him allegedly refused to give their own details or remain behind for documentation.
With no identification card or phone on him, Owino could not be immediately processed for treatment. Instead of waiting for his family—who had been informed and were on their way—the individuals reportedly left the hospital with him around 6:59 p.m.
“They said they were taking him to Aga Khan Hospital as he had requested,” Scholastica recalled in an earlier interview. “But later, they told his brother they had put him in a Kibos Route 7-11 matatu and asked the conductor to drop him at Kamakaa Stage so he could head home. That was the last time anyone saw him alive.”
Body Found in Morgue
For days, the family held on to hope. They searched hospitals, police stations, and nearby settlements, circulating his photo online in the desperate belief that he might still be alive.
That hope was shattered when the family confirmed that Owino’s body had been lying unclaimed at a Kisumu County morgue. The news was shared publicly by his grieving wife on Facebook, triggering an outpouring of sympathy and anger from the community.
“How he ended up there and what happened after he boarded the matatu remains a mystery,” Scholastica said.
Calls for Justice
The family is now calling for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. They insist that someone must be held accountable for the negligence and confusion that saw a conscious accident victim disappear without receiving medical care.
Community members have joined the chorus demanding answers, with many describing the tragedy as a painful reminder of systemic failures in emergency response and hospital procedures.
“We’ve lost a brilliant mind, a teacher who inspired his students and served his community with dedication,” said one of his colleagues at Lela Secondary School. “His death should not go unanswered.”
A Pattern of Tragedies
Owino’s case comes just days after another educator, Simon Isiaho Shange, the principal of Munyuki PAG Secondary School in Lugari, went missing after a car crash while on his way to collect KCSE exam papers. His car was found abandoned at the notorious Muge black spot, with no trace of him.
As investigations continue, Kisumu residents are urging authorities to move swiftly to unravel the mystery behind Owino’s death — and to ensure justice for a teacher whose final moments were marked by confusion, neglect, and tragedy.
May his soul rest in peace.
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