Veteran Eldoret journalist killed by gang on boda bodas

Mr John Kituyi, 63, the owner of the regional Mirror Weekly, was attacked by a gang riding on two boda bodas as he walked to his Pioneer Estate home at around 7.30pm.

What you need to know:

  • “I was alone in the house preparing dinner when I heard a bang at the gate. Upon checking, I found the boda boda who said they had found my father seriously injured. He added that they had rushed him to hospital.

An Eldoret-based journalist was killed by unknown people on Thursday night.

Mr John Kituyi, 63, the owner of the regional Mirror Weekly, was attacked by a gang riding on two boda bodas as he walked to his Pioneer Estate home at around 7.30pm.

Grief engulfed Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary yesterday where Mr Kituyi’s family members, friends and relatives gathered.
Mr Kituyi previously worked at Kenya Cooperative Creameries, Eldoret depot, before becoming a correspondent for The Standard in the late 1980s.
He launched his weekly paper after working for the daily for more than 10 years.

Mr Kituyi’s widow, Esther, travelled from her Naitiri home in Bungoma County to identify the body.

“He called me in the evening and said he was looking for money to travel upcountry. We never talked again,” the mother of seven said.
According to the family, the killers hit Mr Kituyi with a blunt object on the back of the head.

BANG AT THE DOOR

His daughter, Sarah, said a boda boda friend of the slain journalist arrived home with the news.

“I was alone in the house preparing dinner when I heard a bang at the gate. Upon checking, I found the boda boda who said they had found my father seriously injured. He added that they had rushed him to hospital.

She said they went to hospital and found doctors attending to her unconscious father.
His brother, Henry, said this was the second attack on Mr Kituyi.

Kapseret MP, Oscar Sudi, who was at the mortuary challenged police to take security issues seriously.

“Let them conduct thorough investigations into this killing. Every Kenyan must feel secure,” Mr Sudi said.

His Mosop counterpart Stephen Bitok also called for speedy investigations.

“As leaders, we understand that insecurity is a concern. We call on the security apparatus in Uasin Gishu to move with speed and unearth the killers of Mr Kituyi,” he said.