The tragic conclusion to the search for Richard Otieno Kobe, the headteacher of Raganga Primary School, arrived on Sunday, April 21, 2024, with the discovery of his lifeless body in a borehole.
The grim discovery occurred near his residence in Aloo estate, Oyugis, Homa Bay County. Gilbert Kobe, the younger brother of the deceased headteacher, revealed that the body was found by his son, who had gone to fetch water from the borehole.
“After days of searching, we received the distressing news that the body had been found in the water borehole,” Gilbert lamented.
Promptly, the family notified the authorities at the Oyugis police station. Lilies Wachira, the Rachuonyo South Sub-County Police Commander, confirmed that detectives had commenced investigations to ascertain the circumstances leading to the headteacher’s demise.
“It’s disheartening to discover the teacher deceased following reports of his disappearance. The case is now under investigation,” stated Wachira.
Subsequently, the body was transferred to the Rachuonyo South Sub-County Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination. Notably, Richard Otieno Kobe had departed from his residence without his mobile phone. His brother recounted the last communication with him, which occurred on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, the day he vanished.
“My brother was reported missing on Tuesday. He left without his phone and failed to disclose his whereabouts,” Gilbert disclosed.
The circumstances surrounding the headteacher’s plunge into the borehole have sparked inquiries. Patrick Were, the Secretary of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) in Homa Bay, expressed skepticism about the possibility of accidental falling, citing the borehole’s lockable seal.
“We are puzzled about how he ended up in the well. There are suspicions surrounding his death. Given that the borehole is secured with a lockable seal, it’s perplexing. We urge law enforcement to thoroughly investigate the circumstances,” urged Were.
