The search for two brothers who were picked from their houses in Lanet trading centre is yet to yield any fruits more than a year later.

The two brothers, Vincent Motari 24 and Alfred Omboto 38, were picked from their rented house in Kiondoo trading centre in Lanet by unknown people and have since been missing.

Their family is on the verge of losing hope of ever finding them after investigations seemed to hit a dead end.

Mtaa Wangu has learnt that three people have recorded statements with the police regarding the disappearance of the two brothers.

Among those who have recorded statements include the landlord of the plot where the two stayed, Motari’s girlfriend and a man alleged to be their friend.

According to the police, the landlord is said to have received a call from the man who sought to inquire whether the two brothers have been taken away. The said man was arrested on Tuesday.

The family is however accusing the police of laxity in the investigations citing the long period that the investigations have taken.

Mr Benson Ayuka, elder brother to the two complained that police action indicates lack of interest or willingness to pursue the matter.

Mr Ayuka claimed that the police have been reluctant to take serious actions such as having the suspects record statements or simply establishing the communication data of the two brothers.

He said he has been the one bringing the suspects to record statements with the police seemingly unwilling to make arrests.

“We are concerned that the police have lost interest in this matter yet the whereabouts of two people remains unknown. We have not seen them making any arrests despite us providing them numerous leads,” said Mr Ayuka.

The kin said the search had taken a serious toll on the family which has been left desperate.

According to him, their mother suffered a stroke upon learning the news of her sons’ disappearance and has since been in and out of the hospital.

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The family patriarch on the other hand went into depression and has never recovered while the siblings have been preoccupied with the worries of their whereabouts.

“It is frustrating that we are forced to use our own resources to search for suspects yet the agency mandated with carrying out the investigations shows no interest,” said Mr Ayuka.

Nakuru East sub county criminal investigations officer in charge Benson Momanyi however, said investigations are still ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding their disappearance.

He urged the family to be patient noting that police have been encountering challenges in the investigations.

According to him, it has been difficult to trace the brothers’ whereabouts since they were using their partners’ mobile phones which have since been switched off.

“We are going on with investigations and are hopeful of getting answers to the puzzle. So far we have made a number of progress including getting statements from crucial witnesses,” said Mr Momanyi.

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Two Lanet brothers still missing, one year later

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Joseph Openda