A middle-aged man was hacked to death while another is in critical condition following a fierce land tussle in Mosocho village, Kisii County.
Aggrey Ondara, 50, had a fierce argument with his paternal brother, Johnson Mageto over a piece of land, which the latter allegedly grabbed and built a house.
According to eye witnesses, the duo quarreled before going physical with Mageto slashing his brother, who had allegedly bitten his fore finger despite the matter awaiting verdict from village elders.
“They had quarreled for almost an hour and attracted a mammoth crowd in their homestead. Later Ondara bit his brother, who retaliated by slashing him on the neck. Unfortunately, he succumbed to death instantly,” said Martin Omoi, a neighbour.
The deceased’s body was taken to Kisii Teaching and referral mortuary, while the accused is admitted at the same hospital but under the watch of police.
Omoi said the squabbles emerged from an alleged land grabbing where Mageto is said to have erected a building at his brother’s territory, despite initial family resolution that barred him from doing so.
“They have fought for a long time without an amicable solution. The deceased had complained of his land grabbed by his brother, an issue that has been under discussion for a long time,” he said.
Kisii OCPD Tom Mutsya confirmed the incident and termed it “unfortunate and regrettable”, and said the accused will remain under the custody of police till investigations are concluded.