Thomas Minito, Churo Amaya MCA Found Dead

Churo Amaya MCA, Thomas Minito, who had been missing for five days, was found dead in Ol Donyo Sabuk, Machakos on Friday morning.

Minito went missing on Monday. He had been termed a bandit leader and linked to various attacks in the area.

Machakos police chief Samuel Mukindia said police believed the body they collected was Minito’s as they found a voter’s card with his name. Family members are yet to identify the body which was taken to Machakos district mortuary.

Detectives who visited the scene said the body had visible neck and hand injuries, indications that the victim may have been strangled to death.

The Baringo criminal investigation department is yet to produce a report on the Pokot leader’s abduction and murder.

Minito was last seen at about noon on Monday having lunch with a woman before three men in plain clothes approached saying he was under arrest.

“They demanded he accompany them to the police station to record a statement after identifying themselves as officers,” the woman said when she reported the incident at the Kabarnet station about 20 minutes later.

Minito’s phone was traced to have been used between Sesya and Koriema along Kabarnet-Marigat road.

On Thursday, aggrieved Pokot residents led by Speaker William Kamket, stormed the police station demanding that the government produce their leader and give them an explanation.

Last month, Minito was arrested, arraigned and released on Sh1.5 million bond for allegedly planning violence in Laikipia and Baringo during which several people were killed or injured. Livestock were either stolen or killed.

The bodies of human rights lawyer Willie Kimani, his client Josephat Mwenda and taxi driver Joseph Murirui were also found in the area last year. The investigations into the three murders are still pending.