Residents yesterday temporarily barred police from removing the body of a 73-year-old woman who was killed by a gang that also raped her three granddaughters.
Bureti Deputy County Commissioner Carole Nzwili and OCPD Mohammed Ali asked the woman’s son to appeal to the residents, who were protesting at rising insecurity, to allow them to take the body to the Litein Hospital mortuary.
“We have been mourning too many people for far too long. We have lost trust in the police officers' ability to protect us. We want Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i and his Energy counterpart, Charles Keter, to come here,” said Monica Cherono, a resident of Samuget village.
Kericho Police Commander James Mugera said officers were following leads about four men suspected to have committed the crimes in the early hours of yesterday.
Mr Mugera said the men broke into the home through a window.
“The suspects fatally hit the woman on the head with a blunt object. They also sexually assaulted her granddaughters aged 20, 16 and 11 years,” he said. The woman's husband was also robbed.
“The robbers descended on the old man in bed and demanded money. They robbed him of Sh5,000 and a mobile phone,” said Mugera, adding that the house help was attacked and left unconscious.
Litein Mission Hospital Medical Superintendent Victor Munala said the victims were recuperating well. “A 29-year-old female survivor sustained severe head injuries and is in theatre undergoing minor surgery. The sexual assault victims have been examined and treated and they are now undergoing counselling,” said Mr Munala.
Elsewhere, residents of Kamwaura and Arimi villages in Njoro have raised the alarm over a gang that has been raping women. There was a traffic snarl-up along the busy Njoro-Molo road as residents protested, accusing police of laxity.
Addressing the media, the residents said the criminals were only interested in assaulting women, and any man who tried to help the victims was brutally attacked. “Nights have become a nightmare for women and our girls. The gang is raping women and girls regardless of age. They are not stealing anything,” said Mary Wanjiru.
Another resident, Joyce Wangari, said: “They force their way into people’s homes and rape women and girls as the men watch. Some men have been brutalised as they defended their families."
Njoro Deputy County Commissioner Arnold Lunalo said police were investigating the attacks.
