Sammy Ekitela: Turkana South Constituency Manager Abducted In Hotel By Armed Gang

• Sammy Ekitela was playing golf at Cherina Hotel with his friends when the attackers approached and started assaulting them
• Turkana South MP John Namoit urged the police to expedite the investigation into the matter so that tension in the constituency and family can reduce
• His wife Elizabeth Eyanae said she waited for her husband until late in the night but he did not show up and hence filed a missing person report at the police station

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Tension and fear have gripped Turkana South Constituency and the family of the constituency's manager after he was abducted from Cherina restaurant in Lodwar while meeting with his team.

Sammy Ekitela, also known as When Zonko, was attacked with his team and the hotel's security personnel by six armed thugs on Monday night, April 29.

In an exclusive interview with TUKO.co.ke, his wife, Elizabeth Eyanae, revealed that her husband had dropped her off at home at 8.30pm, went to see his friends at the restaurant briefly, but never returned home.

"I was with him until 8.30pm when he left for Cherina Hotel. We were planning to travel to Nairobi the following day and so he promised not to take long. I waited for him to return until midnight. When he did not show up, I became worried and started inquiring. We reported the matter to police but up to now, we have received no information about his whereabouts," said Eyanae.

What preceded Zonko's abduction at Cherina Hotel?

The constituency's communication officer, Joseph Kamaret, revealed to TUKO.co.ke that the missing officer was done playing a pool table game when one of the assailants, believed to be the gang leader, walked towards his direction and provoked him.

Their altercation came when the manager stood by his car talking to his friends.

According to him, Zonko's response to the assault triggered the unsuspected chaos. A team of five other armed men showed up and started beating him up.

As the situation worsened, the restaurant's security team intervened but their efforts were thwarted as the armed suspects overpowered them.

Kamaret added that the suspects dragged Zonko to their car and drove him in their leader's car to an unknown place.

"This very organised team of murderers and paedophiles drove to Cherina's Homes where their victims were peacefully having dinner unaware of what awaited them. Upon arrival, their leader sent his younger brother to stir the still waters. He walked up to the table where the manager was sitting and without hesitation slapped him.

Zonko's reaction to that bizarre incident opened a can of worms as the main suspect and his gang poured onto the scene and roughed up every being that stood in their way.After pouncing on the security team that intervened, they dragged the manager across the floor before grabbing and driving away with him to an unknown location aboard the leader's vehicle," he said.

MP John Namoit responds to Zonko's abduction

His sentiments have been echoed by the Turkana South Member of Parliament John Ariko Namoit who expressed fear that the failure to find the missing manager may compel residents to resort to mass action to seek justice.

Namoit said that Zonko was severely injured stating that the injuries sustained could not allow him to survive for two days if not medically attended.

"We are worried that the injuries sustained during the predetermined assault, without attention, can't allow him to survive two days post the horrible incident. We give the police and the assailants a day to locate the manager dead or alive and hand him over to his family," said Namoit.

He further urged the police to expedite their investigation as the community is living in fear following the unfortunate incident.

Dandora baby who went missing found alive

In another story, a four-year-old girl who went missing while playing with her friends at their Dandora Estate was found alive and jovial.

The little girl lost track of her home when a Good Samaritan met and took her to a police station.

TUKO.co.ke ran her story after a week and fortunately, a police officer read the story and helped her family reunite with her.

Proofreading by Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke