In a shocking development, the investigation into the brutal murder of popular Ohangla dancer Sheila Akeyo Odoyo, known as Wegesha, has taken a dramatic turn.
Sergeant Samwel Odoyo, a police officer, has come forward, revealing that Sheila was his wife of 17 years, and they were planning to reunite just days before her untimely death.
Sheila’s mutilated body was discovered in a house in Athi River, Machakos County, where she lived with Jackson Bambo, alias JB, a 45-year-old businessman who has since gone into hiding. Sheila, 38, was reportedly in a troubled marriage with Jackson, marked by claims of infidelity.
Her daughter, Linda Okinyi, discovered her mother’s body on the afternoon of May 10 when she went to serve her lunch. Sheila had deep cuts on her throat, and it is believed she was killed on the night of May 9. Linda told detectives that Jackson left their home around 1 a.m. on the night of the murder in a Mitsubishi Outlander without saying a word.
Sergeant Odoyo’s emergence has added a new layer of complexity to the case. In an interview with The Nairobian, Odoyo revealed that he had secretly planned to reunite with Sheila, whom he referred to as his first wife. They had been estranged since 2017 but maintained communication, particularly concerning the upbringing of their three children. Despite their separation, Odoyo had hoped for a reconciliation.
“We had a conversation about meeting soon. I wanted to travel to Nairobi, but she suggested coming to Kisumu where I work,” Odoyo recounted. Their last phone conversation left Odoyo optimistic about rekindling their marriage. Sheila had allegedly intimated that she was looking to end her relationship with Jackson and find a new home to live with Odoyo and their children.
“She hinted that she was already searching for a house to leave Jackson. Her proposal gave me hope that we would restart our marriage,” Odoyo said, heartbroken by the news of her death just two days later.
Odoyo insists he has the cultural right to bury Sheila, supported by her family. “My in-laws are cooperative because they recognize me as their son-in-law. I paid dowry, formalizing our marriage,” he stated. In Luo culture, paying dowry signifies a legitimate marital bond, and Odoyo plans to build a new homestead for Sheila’s burial, adhering to the custom prohibiting the burial of a first wife in the homestead of a second wife.
Peter Obugi, Sheila’s elder brother, affirmed the family’s recognition of Odoyo as Sheila’s husband. “As a family, we only recognize Odoyo. He paid the bride price, and we have allowed him to bury her,” Obugi stated.
Odoyo’s relatives also emphasize that Sheila was not married to Jackson but was his lover, clarifying the family’s stance to avoid tarnishing Sheila’s memory.
