This archive report was first published on 10 September 2019.
On Sunday, the body of Maurice Odero, a Football Kenya Federation (FKF) referee from Turkana, was discovered hanging from a tree in a thicket at Kalemnyang village in Loima Sub County.
According to his father, John Oduwo, Odero had been experiencing stress due to a business dispute with a partner who had allegedly failed to pay him a significant amount of money for work done in the past.
"I am yet to come to terms with the death of my child. I don't know if really he committed suicide or someone killed him and hanged him on a tree," Mr Oduwo said.
On Saturday, Odero had been acting strangely, telling colleagues that he needed to make a crucial call but was unable to do so due to poor network coverage in the area.
David Nyongesa, a casual worker at the construction site, reported that Odero had declined supper and opted for milk, saying he would return later.
However, Odero was found dead the next day, with no signs of foul play but also no suicide note left behind.
Loima Sub County Commissioner Charles Mbulishe confirmed that the police had retrieved the body and taken it to the Lodwar County and Referral Hospital Mortuary for further investigation.
"At the moment we cannot confirm whether the man committed suicide or was killed and hanged until the investigations we have started are over as no suicide note was left," Mr Mbulishe said.
Odero had been officiating FKF Division Two League Western Zone B games, including matches for Turkana teams Kakuma United FC and Nawoitorong Rangers.
