DNA tests in Kenya confirm murder of ex-Manafwa DHO  

DNA tests have confirmed the death of Dr Gideon Wamasebu, 62, the former Manafwa district health officer. 

Wamasebu, an uncle to former presidential media officer and Vision Group CEO Don Wanyama went missing from his home in Namabasa sub-county in Mbale city nearly two weeks ago. On Monday this week, a body was discovered buried in a shallow grave near River Kakamega in Kabras village, Kakamega County in Kenya.

The body was later exhumed on Tuesday by Ugandan and Kenyan medical personnel to carry out DNA tests. The deceased’s daughter Bridget Nekesa, says that the DNA tests confirmed that the body was of her father. Nekesa adds that some members of the family have travelled to Kakamega to collect the body.

Wamasebu left his home in Mbale on February 6, in the company of his niece for a workshop in Kenya. Suspected kidnappers called his family demanding over Shs 290 million in ransom. 

Dr John Baptist Wanyaiye, commissioner of emergency and rescue services in the ministry of Health and a friend of the family, says Wamasebu’s niece, also a caretaker of the home got distress WhatsApp messages stating that Wamasebu was in urgent need of up to Kshs 10 million (about Shs 292 million). 

“The following day, [WhatsApp] messages changed to demanding that he sells his possessions to save his life. He stated in WhatsApp that; ‘I have sent my friend (pastor) to pick my land titles, sell off the car, and sell off the houses and farm to save my life’, said Wanyaiye. 

According to Wanyaiye, the family immediately engaged the police who arrested some goons suspected to have kidnapped Wamesebu for ransom. The family with the help of police managed to trap one of these kidnappers who had picked up his vehicle from Mbale and arrested him. The suspect then led them to another person in Busia in Uganda, who, family members say is known to them and claims to be a pastor. 

Wanyaiye says the suspects are in fact brothers – with one purporting to be a pastor and another a bishop from Kakamega. He, however, explains that despite picking the two suspects, Wamasebu’s whereabouts are yet to be established. The ‘bishop’ who claimed to know where Wamasebu is has since opted to keep mum after being arrested.