Son of Slain Kilifi IEBC Manager Identifies Suspects in Court

In a significant development in the murder trial of Kilifi County Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) official Aisha Akinyi Abubakar, her son, Qassim Mrisho, provided crucial testimony at the Mombasa High Court. Mrisho positively identified two of the accused—Joseph Sunday Otieno, also known as Brian Shikuku Mudari, and Bryan Templer Oyare—as the assailants who broke into their Utange home on January 5, 2025.

Image: Murder accused Joseph Sunday Otieno & Bryan Templer Oyare presented in Mombasa high Court.

Testifying before Justice Wendy Micheni, Mrisho recounted the harrowing events of that early morning. He described how, upon hearing movements around 3 a.m., he encountered Oyare in his room. "He demanded my phones and tablet and attempted to access my M-Pesa account. When unsuccessful, he struck my head with a blunt object," He said. He was unconscious for a brief period. Upon regaining consciousness, Mrisho rushed to his mother's room where he discovered his mother gravely injured.

The attackers had gained entry by cutting through the kitchen window grills. They stole several items, including two Samsung phones, an iPad, a 65-inch television, a sound system, ATM cards, and documents belonging to the IEBC . The theft of official documents led Aisha's family to suspect that the attack was targeted rather than a random robbery .

Following a week-long manhunt, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested three suspects: Isa Omari, Joseph Sunday Otieno, and Bryan Templer Oyare. The arrests were made during coordinated operations within the coastal region . The suspects were presented before Shanzu Principal Magistrate Leah Juma, who granted the police's request to detain them for 21 days to allow further investigations .

IEBC Chief Executive Officer Marjan Hussein Marjan condemned the murder and called for a thorough investigation. He confirmed that crucial electoral documents were stolen during the attack, raising concerns about the motive behind the crime. 

The case continues to unfold as authorities delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Aisha Abubakar, a public servant who had served the IEBC since 2012.