What remained of the motorcycles the man and police officers rode on to the village where they were attacked. [James Omoro, Standard]
A police officer who was helping a husband get his wife back from another man was killed by an angry mob in Homa Bay County. The second man is said to have eloped with the woman.
Felix Yegon was killed at Kalwal village in Ndhiwa sub-County, Homa Bay County, on Wednesday evening.
Constable Yegon was attached to Kobama police station.
The man he was trying to help was reported to have separated with the wife one month ago.
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On Wednesday, the man who hails from Pala Koguta village in the same sub-County, reported to Kobama police post with a letter from the Assistant Chief requesting the police to help him get back his wife.
Senior Chief Joseph Makoteng’ of West Kwabawai location said the man directed the police officers to the home of his estranged wife’s aunt even though she (wife) was not there.
Mr Makoteng’ said there had been bad blood between the man and his wife’s aunt because he had been accused of assaulting her three weeks ago.
The man, accompanied by Yegon and another officer, went to the home on two motorcycles. The two officers were not in uniform.
Villagers, who already knew about the assault case, attacked the three.
“Residents suspected he was on another mission to assault his wife’s aunt. They descended on the three with sharp and blunt weapons,” the chief said.
They overpowered the officers before the man and one of the officers identified as William Ngeiwa disappeared. Mr Ngeiwa sought refuge in a nearby home.
Yegon, who had been left alone, fired bullets in the air to disperse the mob. But all was in vain. Ndhiwa sub-County Police Commander Robert Aboki said Yegon shot in the air until the bullets in his gun were depleted.
Beaten to death
He was overwhelmed by the assailants who beat him to death.
“The murdered officer made several attempts to disperse the crowd but he was overpowered after he was left with no bullet,” Mr Aboki said.
The mob then set on fire the two motorbikes the officers had used.
“We later rescued the other police officer from the house of a Good Samaritan who saved him,” Aboki said.
The mob disappeared after killing Yegon.
Aboki said they had launched investigations in order to bring the suspects to book and urged citizens against taking the law into their own hands.
