Police move to quell Kisumu-Nandi border tension after man’s slaying
Kisumu County Police Commander Job Boronjo (left) and other officers during a peace meeting at Potopoto along the Kisumu-Nandi border on Sunday. PHOTO | ONDARI OGEGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Authorities announced they had arrested two people, one of them the main suspect, identified as Mr Isaac Kiptoo, alias Malakwen.
- Kisumu County Commissioner Pauline Dola said Mr Malakwen was arrested on Monday in Nandi County and interrogated by police.
Police on Monday moved to quell the tension at the Kisumu-Nandi border after a gang killed retired judge Effie Owuor's farm manager and injured her son on Saturday.
A contingent of regular and Administration Police officers led by Kisumu County Commander Job Boronjo visited the scene in Nyangore, Muhoroni Constituency, before holding a series of peace meetings with local residents.
In the incident that has sparked tension along the border, the suspects reportedly waylaid the farm manager, Mr George Bengo, and hacked him to death before turning on Mr Paul Owuor, the judge’s son.
ATTACKED
Locals said the judge’s son, who was rushed to Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu where he is currently admitted in the Intensive Care Unit, had responded to Mr Bengo’s distress call when he was attacked.
Authorities announced they had arrested two people, one of them the main suspect, identified as Mr Isaac Kiptoo, alias Malakwen.
Kisumu County Commissioner Pauline Dola said Mr Malakwen was arrested on Monday in Nandi County and interrogated by police.
Ms Dola said that they are also holding the owner of the two tractors that were ploughing the land that belongs to Justice Owuor and where Mr Bengo was killed.
PRODUCE DRIVERS
They want him to produce the drivers of the two trucks to help the police with investigation.
“We want him to tell us who the two drivers are so that they help us with investigations,” he said, adding that the hunt for other suspects was on.
On Monday, Ms Dola and her Nandi counterpart Mohammed Bare presided over a peace meeting on the border where they urged locals to remain calm and let the government handle the matter.
REMAIN CALM
“We urge the public to remain calm because the government is handling this matter and justice will be served. This is an isolated case that should not divide us,” said Ms Dola.
Speaking at Potopoto in Chemelil and Kopere market in Muhoroni, Mr Boronjo urged the two communities living in the area to remain calm.
"This should not be an issue of this community or that one.
“It is an isolated criminal act that should not create animosity among us because we shall deal with the criminals," he said.
