BUNGOMA, KENYA – A family in the Musikoma area of Bungoma County is demanding a thorough investigation into the death of 45-year-old welder and fabricator, Ernest Ojuli, who died on Thursday, November 13, 2025, from injuries sustained after his abduction by unknown individuals. The incident has cast a spotlight on local security, as it emerges amidst a broader probe by regional detectives into a series of recent, unexplained deaths in Western Kenya.

According to a colleague, Mr. Ojuli was at his workshop on the morning he disappeared. He had initially called his colleague around 7:30 AM EAT to say he would not be coming to work due to other errands. However, he later appeared at the workshop briefly before leaving with two men who claimed they needed him to apply fertiliser on their farm. This was the last time he was seen unharmed.

Later, colleagues received a distressing call informing them that Mr. Ojuli had been found abandoned in a nearby forest. He was alive but in critical condition, unable to walk or speak.

“Some of my colleagues who live behind the workshop called me and said they had been informed that Ojuli was in a forest and that he was neither talking nor walking,” his colleague recounted to reporters. “I rushed to the forest with my cousin. We lifted Ojuli and took him to the hospital.”

The family’s ordeal was compounded by difficulties in securing medical care. According to the colleague's account, Mr. Ojuli was rejected by two hospitals before finally being admitted to a third facility for treatment. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries the following day. His wife stated that their son, who was at the hospital, reported that his father was in a critical state and had lost his memory before his passing. A medical scan reportedly indicated that internal bleeding was the cause of death.

Police Investigations and Regional Context

While Bungoma County police have not yet issued a specific statement on Mr. Ojuli’s case, the Western Region Police Commander, Issa Mohamud, confirmed on Friday, November 14, 2025, that detectives have launched investigations into a “string of deaths” reported across Bungoma, Kisumu, Bomet, and Kilifi counties. This regional probe suggests a heightened level of concern from law enforcement regarding recent fatalities in the area, although official details linking Mr. Ojuli's death directly to others have not been released. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.

The circumstances of Mr. Ojuli’s death—being lured away under a false pretense before being violently assaulted—have raised alarm among residents and local business owners in Musikoma. Described by those who knew him as a peace-loving man, his violent death has left his widow and family struggling for answers and appealing to authorities for justice.

This incident occurs in a county that, according to a recent report by the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), is among the top nine counties in Kenya with over 1,000 cases of sexual and gender-based violence filed in the 2024/2025 financial year. While unrelated to this specific case, the statistic underscores a broader challenge with high levels of violence in the region that authorities are contending with.

As the family prepares for a burial, their call for a swift and transparent investigation is echoed by a community unsettled by the brutal and mysterious nature of the crime. The police are now under pressure to provide answers and ensure the safety of residents in the Musikoma area and greater Bungoma County.