Residents of Bogichora ward in Nyamira have called for the arrest and prosecution of a man who allegedly hacked a 60-year-old woman to death over a land row.
Addressing mourners on Saturday at Mary Okoyo’s funeral, speaker after speaker condemned the death and asked authorities to intervene and bring the perpetrator to justice.
“The government should go for this suspect. Everybody knows him hence there is no reason whatsoever why he should not be arrested to face a murder case,” said James Ogari, a brother to the deceased.
According to area residents, the suspect (name withheld) has had squabbles over a piece of land for a long time, and the case was before a Kisii court pending determination.
“They have had intrigues over the land issue for almost two years now and the matter is before [the] Kisii law courts. The verdict was to be made sometime early this year,” said Jane Onsogo, a neighbour of the two parties.
She claimed the suspect confronted the deceased near her home before hitting her with a blunt object and later cutting her neck with a sharp knife.
“He killed her just near the compound using a blunt object [and] a sharp knife. He then ran away before the police arrived at the scene,”, she alleged.
Bogichora MCA Beuttah Omanga asked the police to hunt for the suspect to ensure both sides get justice without prejudice.
“Since the accused is alive, the police should do their job. We need to know why he killed her yet it is against the law and there is a pending court verdict over land wrangles,” he said.