Family of boda boda official killed in Mbale seeks justice

The family of George Otobe, a Kisumu boda boda rider, is demanding justice after he was allegedly killed in Mbale during the Linda Mwananchi rally.

Otobe was a member and official of the Kisumu County Boda Boda Association.

His death has sparked outrage among fellow riders and relatives, who claim he was targeted because of his perceived political affiliation. 

Speaking in tears, his widow, Flora Atieno, recalled the last moments she spent with her husband. 

“He came home on Friday at around 3am. He was very tired after a long day at work. Normally I serve him food whenever he arrives, but that day he said he was too tired and would eat the next morning before leaving for work,” she said. 

The two did not talk much before going to sleep. 

On Saturday morning, Flora woke up early, prepared their child for school and left for work. 

Otobe was still asleep when she left. 

Before she departed, he had given her money for transport. 

At around noon, she received a call from one of Otobe’s friends asking whether she had spoken to her husband, as his phones were switched off.

“I told him George had arrived late and maybe he had not charged his two phones,” she said.

Thirty minutes later, the same friend called back with shocking news that her husband was dead. 

“I was shocked. I hung up the phone. I became restless and called him again. He told me the same thing,” she said. 

Her employer noticed she was disturbed and advised her to go home. 

On her way, she decided to pass by the boda boda association offices. 

“When I reached there, I found his colleagues. They told me he had been beaten and was being rushed to hospital because he was critically injured, but not dead,” she said. 

Even as she tried to process the information, calls kept coming from friends and relatives asking whether what they had seen on Facebook that her husband was dead was true. 

Finally, a woman she knew called from the scene and confirmed the worst. 

“She told me she was there and that my husband was dead,” Flora said. 

She described Otobe as a caring, quiet and responsible man devoted to his family.

 “That is how I knew him, calm and a man of few words.”

Otobe’s uncle, Joseph Olwanda, said the family believes he may have been trailed from Kisumu before being confronted in Mbale.

“What country are we living in? Politics will always be there, but for how long will we continue losing our children in the name of one term or two terms?” he asked.

Olwanda emphasised that every Kenyan has a constitutional right to support any leader of their choice.

“As a family, we are not happy. The pain we are feeling today, let no other family feel it again.”

The Kisumu County Boda Boda Association have called for justice for their colleague.

While describing him as disciplined, hardworking and committed to promoting order within the sector, they said the matter should be investigated thorougly.

The association chairman Jacob Ogambo said that Kisumu county has more than 75,000 registered boda boda riders and that the organisation does not dictate political choices. 

“We cannot decide for any rider who to support. Each and every rider has a right to support whoever they want,” he said. 

Ogambo alleged that even after Otobe identified himself as an association official and removed his tag, the attackers continued beating him.

He called on government agencies to expedite investigations and establish who was behind the killing.

“We suspect foul play. Let the investigative agencies move with speed and tell us who was behind this. Political goons are becoming a threat to democracy,” Ogambo added.

 The family and colleagues are now appealing to the government to ensure security at political gatherings and to protect citizens regardless of their political affiliation. 

“Let people with different political opinions carry out their activities freely and safely,” Olwanda said.