Kin mourn Murkomen's aide after identifying body
Benson Kiptire's relatives at Kapenguria Referral Hospital mortuary where they had gone to identify his body. His wife said he was picked up by unknown people on Friday, July 21, 2019 at his Eldoret shop. PHOTO | OSCAR KAKAI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen said Kiptire worked as his county office liaison officer.
Family members of Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen’s aide Benson Kiptire have confirmed that it was his body that was found dumped at the Kamatira forest along the Kitale-Lodwar highway in West Pokot County.
The relatives identified the body at the Kapenguria County Referral Hospital mortuary after they were informed he was missing.
Kiptire, the former Kapyego Ward representative was abducted and bundled into a vehicle by unknown people on Friday while at Rock Centre in Eldoret at around noon.
Speaking to the Nation, West Pokot County Police Commander Jackson Tumwet confirmed that the body was recovered from the thickets on Saturday evening by police officers and taken to Kapenguria County Hospital morgue.
According to his brother Mr Chris Kiptire, the former MCA was strangled to death with a wire.
“We have viewed the body and it had an injury near the eye. It’s sad and a great loss to the family and the nation. He was the head of the family and leader of the community,” he said.
The police have launched into the murder.
“We are doing investigations and tomorrow we shall be able to identify the body after taking the fingerprints,” he said.
Leaders from Elgeyo Marakwet County led by Mr Murkomen expressed their sadness over the killing of the former MCA.
"I am shattered. I am in so much pain. My friend and brother...Benson Kiptire former MCA Kapyego has been murdered. Benson was my county office liaison officer. I am still in utter shock," said Mr Murkomen in a tweet on Saturday.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Marakwet East MP Kangongo Bowen.
Kiptire had been recently vocal on issues of insecurity on the Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot and East Baringo border.
HE was at his shop at Rock Centre on the Eldoret-Iten road when a vehicle, Toyota Prado, stopped by and four people hopped out, identified themselves as police officers and bundled him into it and sped off towards Eldoret town.
According to his wife, who was present during the abduction, Kiptire sought to know why he was being arrested but his pleas fell on deaf ears.
“We don’t know the motive behind the arrest,” she said in shock.
