Police in Emuhaya Sub-County, Vihiga County, are investigating three separate cases of alleged abduction reported in different parts of the area, following the discovery of two victims' bodies in River Yala.
The incidents were reported in West Bunyore and North East Bunyore, with two of the victims later found dead in the river, while another man, identified as Wilson Mukuna from Ebukholi, Esibuye, remains missing.
Emuhaya Sub-County Police Commander George Opere Ongozi confirmed that one of the victims was a police officer, Manase Olambwe Ndakala, who was attached to Emusire.
Ongozi said one suspect had already been arrested as investigations continued to establish the circumstances surrounding the three incidents and determine whether they were connected.
The police commander spoke after visiting the family of Ndakala at their home in Ebuyangu, where he conveyed the government's commitment to supporting the burial arrangements.
He assured the family that the government would meet the burial expenses in line with established police regulations.
The officer's death has left his family struggling to come to terms with the loss, with his mother, Florida Ndakala, leading calls for assistance as they prepare to lay him to rest.
The family said they had incurred significant expenses while trying to locate and retrieve their relative's body from River Yala. They appealed to well-wishers and relevant authorities to support them during the difficult period.
They also disclosed that Ndakala had left behind two young children, adding to the family's concerns about how they would cope following his death.
Meanwhile, uncertainty continues to surround the disappearance of Mukuna, whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Ongozi said investigations into the missing man's case were ongoing, with police working to establish what happened and trace his whereabouts.
The disappearance has sparked concern among residents of Esibuye, who took to the streets to protest and demand urgent government intervention.
The demonstrators called on security agencies to intensify their efforts to locate Mukuna and provide his family with answers about his disappearance.
They expressed frustration over the lack of information regarding his whereabouts, insisting that the family should not be left without answers as investigations continue.
The residents also urged the government to take the matter seriously and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
The three cases have raised concern among residents of Emuhaya, particularly following the recovery of two bodies from River Yala and the continued disappearance of Mukuna.
Police have not yet disclosed further details about the circumstances of the alleged abductions or whether the incidents are linked.
Investigations are expected to establish the events leading to the victims' deaths, identify those responsible and determine the whereabouts of the missing man.
