Mbita Sub-County Hospital where the two men died while receiving medical care. [James Omoro, Standard]
Two fishermen in Rusinga, Mbita Sub-county in Homa Bay County are dead after physically fighting over a stick of cigarette worth Sh15.
The two are identified as Geoffrey Ngoje, 32, and Sikuku Odiko,36.
The incident happened at Nyagina beach.
Reports indicate that trouble began when Ngoje went to buy the cigarette from a nearby shop on Saturday evening.
When Odiko saw him, he went to him to request a cigarette so that he could also smoke. But Ngoje declined to share with him.
Odiko insisted, hoping Ngoje would change his position to give him.
According to the Chief of Rusinga East Location Mboya Owuor, Odiko got annoyed by his colleague's selfishness and opted to get violent.
"Odiko was demanding the cigarette yet Ngoje who bought it was still smoking, meaning he had not been satisfied with it," Owuor said.
Odiko got annoyed, took a knife, and stabbed him several times in various parts of the body. Ngoje became unconscious and collapsed due to the injuries sustained.
Meanwhile, a mob that witnessed the fighting got hold of Odiko and pounced on him with crude weapons.
"The mob was not happy with what Odiko did before attacking him with crude weapons. They injured him seriously," said Owuor.
Mbita Sub-County Police Commander Solomon Barngetuny said police rushed the two men to Mbita Sub-county hospital where they died a few minutes later while undergoing medication.
"They sustained serious injuries in the incident and died a few minutes later while being attended to by medical officers," Barngetuny said.
The police boss said investigations had commenced so that people who were involved in the incident were apprehended.
"We are investigating the matter so that the people who were involved in the incident are charged in court. Let the people avoid taking the law into their hands," Barngetuny warned.
Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo condemned the incident.
"It is wrong for the people to kill one another by taking the law into their hands. I urge beach management unit leaders to unite fishermen to avoid such wrangles," Millie said.
The bodies were moved to MED 25 Kirindo mortuary pending autopsy.
