A dramatic twist emerged in the trial over Brian Odhiambo's disappearance after a Kenya Wildlife Service ranger denied writing or signing a statement attributed to him by investigators. The testimony also raised questions over the identity of the man arrested inside Lake Nakuru National Park as the court prepares to hear from another accused ranger in August.

Kenya Wildlife ranger Michael Wabukala took a stand on 20th July 2026 to testify in Brian Odhiambo’s disappearance case at Lake Nakuru National Park on 18th January 2025. Michael explained how he and other five accused Kenya Wildlife Service officers arrested a man that he didn’t know at the Sewage and Vietnam areas within the park.

“We arrested an individual with dark dirty clothes, with a sack wrapped around his waist at the park.” He said

When asked if he could identify the man as Brian Odhiambo, Wabukala said he could not because he now knows Brian’s face from the photos circulating on social media. He further told the court that identifying suspects was not part of his duties, saying his role was only to make arrests.

While testifying, Wabukala recanted his earlier statement of the events that he had recorded while at the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI). He said that even the signature on the statement was not his, and contradicted his earlier testimony.

“I never wrote any statement myself, even the signature on it is not mine.” He told the court.

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Principal Magistrate Kipkurui Kibelion adjourned the case to 3rd August 2026 when the next accused ranger will testify.

Michael Wabukala stands accused with other other rangers at Lake Nakuru National Park namely Alex Lorokoi, Abdirahman Sudi, Evans Kimaiyo, Isaack Ochieng, and Senior Surgent Francis Wachira.

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