The brutal death of Meshack Yebei, a businessman and local politician from Turbo in Uasin Gishu, remains one of Kenya’s darkest unresolved mysteries. Linked to the International Criminal Court (ICC) cases against William Ruto and Joshua Sang, Yebei’s disappearance and mutilated body highlighted the deadly risks faced by witnesses in high-profile trials.
Timeline of Events
Disappearance in Turbo
On December 28, 2014, Yebei vanished after reporting threats to his life. He had relocated several times for safety.
Though the ICC later claimed he was not on its official witness list, human rights activists insisted Yebei had recorded statements for investigators and was central to the case.
Confusion Over Bodies
Days later, a mutilated body was recovered near River Yala in Nandi and another in Tsavo. Conflicting family identifications, fingerprint mismatches, and inconclusive autopsies fueled confusion.
At one point, relatives said they were 92% certain the Tsavo body was Yebei’s, but DNA tests were needed for confirmation.
Autopsy Findings
The post-mortem revealed bruises, gouged eyes, and deep throat incisions. Yet examiners could not determine whether he died from human violence or an animal attack due to decomposition. The forensic gaps left many questions unanswered.
The ICC’s Complicated Position
The ICC disowned claims that Yebei was a prosecution witness. Instead, it alleged he was implicated in witness interference networks, which led to his exclusion.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s Attorney General insisted the state was unaware of Yebei’s ICC links, while the Witness Protection Agency clarified that he was never in its program.
This conflicting narrative painted Yebei as both a potential witness and a liability, leaving his true role shrouded in mystery.
Blogs and Commentaries
- The Kenya Forum described Yebei’s disappearance as a case of deliberate misinformation, suggesting powerful interests sought to erase his existence twice: physically and narratively.
- George Kegoro (Nation Opinion) compared Yebei’s death to the murder of journalist John Kituyi, framing both as part of a disturbing pattern of intimidation around the ICC trials.
- Independent blogs connected his killing to Kenya’s long tradition of political assassinations, from Robert Ouko to Jacob Juma.
Patterns of Witness Deaths
Yebei’s killing was not isolated. Other ICC-linked figures, such as Anthony Mwenje (alias Noriega), lawyer Paul Gicheru, and journalist John Kituy, also died under suspicious circumstances.
These deaths exposed a chilling reality: in Kenya, witnesses and whistleblowers often pay with their lives.
Legacy and Unanswered Questions
- Who killed Meshack Yebei?
- Was he targeted for what he knew, or silenced because of his double role in the ICC process?
- Why has no one been held accountable despite international attention?
Nearly a decade later, Yebei’s family is still searching for closure, while his case remains a cautionary tale about the fragility of international justice when local politics dictate survival.
Drop Your Comments, What do you think About The Article?