Boda Boda Rider Slaughtered in South B Airbnb After iPhone 17 Delivery as Kisii Rider Is Tortured by Thugs He Tried to Expose

In Summary

– Antony Otieno, 30, was found murdered at Meridian Apartments in South B after delivering an iPhone 17 Pro Max ordered via WhatsApp.
– The delivery rider was discovered tied up under a bed with severe head injuries, with the phone he was delivering found at the scene.
– In a separate incident in Kisii County, Peter Motari, 54, was tortured to death by three men he had threatened to report over burglaries in the area.

The brutal murder of two boda boda riders in separate incidents has sent shockwaves through the motorcycle taxi community, exposing the life-threatening risks these workers face daily.

In Nairobi’s South B estate, 30-year-old Antony Otieno, a father of three, met a horrific end while delivering a brand-new iPhone 17 Pro Max to what turned out to be a deadly trap.

The victim’s body was discovered under a bed in house number 72 on the fifth floor of Meridian Apartments, bound at the hands and legs with a scarf stuffed in his mouth.

According to police reports, Otieno left a shop in the city centre around 10.30am on November 18, heading to the apartment to complete what he believed was a routine delivery.

The order had been placed via WhatsApp by a man claiming to be in Eldoret, using the number 0108577041.

The caller said his brother, identified as Hillary, would collect the phone at the apartment, which had been booked as a temporary stay unit.

Hours after his departure, Otieno’s lifeless body was found in house number 14 on the fourth floor. Blood pooled beneath him, the result of blunt force trauma to the head, according to preliminary autopsy results.

Detectives recovered a knife, a metal rod believed to be the murder weapon, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max that Otieno had been delivering.

His motorcycle, registration number KMFH 161S, remained parked outside.

The apartment had been paid for just hours before the murder by two unknown men who handed over Sh2,500 in cash.

Charity Muthoni Michoki, the Airbnb host, told police she received a message around 9.30am informing her that the bill would be cleared later that evening.

When she went to check on the room, one of the men insisted she wait.

What she discovered was a scene of horror. Blood was splattered across the floor and the door was locked. With the help of neighbours, she forced entry into the bedroom and found Otieno’s body.

Police have forwarded both phone numbers, 0108577041 and 0783041879, to Safaricom for identity tracing.

Investigators believe the suspects orchestrated the murder under the guise of a high-value transaction, highlighting a disturbing trend of criminals targeting delivery riders with fake orders.

In a separate incident in Kisii County, another boda boda rider fell victim to violent crime. Peter Motari, 54, was tortured to death by three men he had threatened to report to authorities over a spate of burglaries in the Isana area.

According to his friends and family, Motari, who also worked as a night guard in the area, had planned to report the three suspects to local authorities. Police said the suspects got wind of his plans and caught up with him on November 18.

The suspects killed Motari in a house in the area before fleeing the scene.

The woman whose house the incident occurred in reported the matter to police. Officers who responded found the body with serious injuries to the head. The body was moved to the mortuary pending an autopsy.

The hunt for the gang is ongoing, police said on Wednesday, amid protests from locals who demanded action and justice. Such murder incidents are common in the area, with vigilante groups leading the trend. Police are yet to solve some of the incidents.

Authorities have in the past arrested and charged some of the suspects linked to the spate of crimes in the area. This followed protests that the gangs operate with impunity in the name of helping police check on crime in general.

The two incidents have reignited concerns about the safety of boda boda riders, who often work long hours and are increasingly targeted by criminals. Industry stakeholders are calling for enhanced security measures and better vetting systems for online transactions involving high-value items.

As Otieno’s family mourns the loss of a husband, father and hardworking provider, and as Motari’s relatives seek justice, authorities are urging anyone with information on either case to come forward. The investigations continue.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​