The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched a nationwide manhunt for a 28-year-old man accused of brutally killing his wife and two young daughters in Yare area, Samburu Central Sub-County, on the night of September 27, 2025.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the DCI identified the suspect as Wycliffe Otieno Odero, who is wanted in connection with what detectives have described as “one of the most disturbing domestic murder cases in recent months.”
“We are appealing to members of the public to provide any information that may lead to the arrest of 28-year-old Wycliffe Otieno Odero, whose photograph appears below,” the DCI said.
“The suspect is wanted for the brutal murder of his wife and two children in Yare area of Samburu Central Sub-County.”
According to investigators, the suspect, who worked as a casual labourer in Maralal town, lived with his wife, Ann Njeri Atheera, and their two daughters, Natalia Nyambura (6) and Tyra Jones (4), in a rented house along the Maralal–Nyahururu road.
Preliminary findings indicate that on the fateful night, Odero arrived home visibly drunk and engaged in a heated argument with his wife over an undisclosed domestic issue.
“In a fit of rage, the suspect is believed to have attacked his wife with a kitchen knife, inflicting multiple stab wounds that led to her death,” a detective attached to the DCI Maralal office told reporters.
“He then turned the weapon on his two daughters, who were asleep, and slit their throats before fleeing into the night.”
Neighbours who heard commotion inside the house said they initially thought it was a minor quarrel.
“We heard shouting and crying, but it stopped suddenly,” said a neighbour, Mary Lekishon.
“When we went to check in the morning, the door was locked from outside. That’s when we suspected something terrible had happened.”
Police officers who responded to the scene were met with a gruesome sight.
The bodies of the woman and her children lay in pools of blood on the bedroom floor.
“It was a heartbreaking scene,” said Samburu Central Sub-County Police Commander, Peter Mwangi.
“Even our most experienced officers were deeply shaken. No child deserves to die in such a brutal manner.”
A manhunt was immediately launched, but Odero managed to evade capture. Detectives have since extended the search to neighbouring counties, including Laikipia, Baringo, and Nakuru, amid fears that the suspect might have sought refuge with relatives or friends.
The DCI has circulated Odero’s photograph and urged anyone with information regarding his whereabouts to report immediately to the nearest police station.
“Members of the public are warned that the suspect is dangerous and may be armed,” the agency cautioned. “Do not attempt to apprehend him yourself. Instead, alert law enforcement authorities immediately.”
The killings have sparked outrage and sorrow across the region, with leaders and residents condemning the rise in domestic-related violence.
