But Fr Oduor, though jovial and a “man of the people,” is said to have made many enemies after his move to Nyabondo Catholic Parish as head priest in July 2017, especially when he began implementing drastic administrative changes, including interdicting Sister Sarah Adipo, the principal of Ahero Girls High School in Nyando Sub-County on October 2016 over alleged misappropriation of funds.
The students went on the rampage and the school was closed, escalating the personal differences Fr Oduor had with several people, including those who had won tenders from the school.
Innocent Masara, a member of the school’s board of management, condemned the closure even as Fr Oduor pushed for the transfer of Sister Adipo, accusing her of running down the institution with policies that were not beneficial to the school.
A source at the parish told The Nairobian that Fr Oduor “condemned Sr Adipo’s long-standing friendship and association with Masara,” who is the director of Track One Learners Alliance and a well-known politician in the area.
But Masara told The Nairobian that their disagreements and the transfer of Sr Adipo could not be cited as a motive to kill the priest.
“I met the priest once during a board meeting sometime in September last year. I have never been to the school after that,” explained Masara, distancing himself from the murder and insisting that he never had any differences with Fr Oduor.
“We do not know whether Father Oduor’s death is political or not,” said a nun at the parish. “My good friend and colleague really suffered before succumbing to his injuries.”
Both Sister Sika and Sister Adipo belong to the Franciscan order. Bishop Philip Anyolo of the Homa Bay Diocese where Sister Sika hails said he could not comment on the matter as it happened in a different territory.
