Man hacks two to death at drinking den

A drinking spree turned tragic when a man ran amok and hacked two people to death in the county of Uasin Gishu, sparking protests by residents.

Tension gripped Matharu Village in Burnt Forest following the killings on Wednesday.

Angry residents set ablaze houses believed to be chang’aa dens. They are blamed for the rise in insecurity in the area.

A woman in one of the dens is said to have been burnt to death during the protests.

QUARREL BROUGHT DEATH

Residents said the suspect, a university dropout, became violent after he quarrelled with his colleagues during a drinking spree.

“He dashed to his house, a few metres from where they were drinking an illicit brew, and came back with an axe.

He then started attacking anybody he came across,” a resident, Mr Elijah Lagat, said.

Wareng police boss Nicholas Maina said the man was detained at the Eldoret Police Station.

“Police officers were sent to the area to quell the violence,” Mr Maina said over the phone.

Transport along the busy Nakuru-Eldoret highway was paralysed for more than five hours after residents blocked it as they protested at the rising insecurity.

The road was later cleared after a team of senior police officers and local leaders assured the residents of their safety.