‘I raped three cousins, didn’t kill granny’ graduate confesses

Sylvester Langat, the graduate who was lynched for allegedly killing a granny and raping her granddaughter. [Standard]

The murder of a 73-year-old woman and rape of her three granddaughters has taken a bizarre turn.

On Thursday, a Maseno University graduate turned up at the victim’s house and confessed to the heinous crime.

According to Bernard Boit, a neighbour who witnessed the happening, Sylvester Langat,24, showed up at the home at 6am. He added that Langat confessed to the murder and rape after hours of interrogation.

The Maseno University School of Education class of 2018 graduate was then lynched by a mob.

“I was one of the first people to be called when Langat arrived at the home at 6am. Upon interrogation, which lasted for hours, he confessed that he was among the four-member gang which had killed (name withheld) and raped her granddaughters,” said Boit.

Boit added that Langat said he participated in the rape of 20, 16 and 11-year-old victims but did not hit the granny.

A police report indicated that the gang had used knives, chisels and iron bars during the incident which also left the house owner and a housemaid unconscious. 

Kericho County Police Commander James Mugera confirmed Sylvester Langat’s lynching.

“The suspect allegedly confessed to the crime. Unfortunately, by the time police officers arrived at the scene, they had lynched him,” he said. 

Immediate neighbour

Sylvester Langat lived in a single room, a few metres from the family, paying Sh2000 rent per month.

The newly-constructed residential building comprised five single rooms made of bricks. 

The Standard team spoke to his landlord Wilborn Koech, who said Langat had lived there for a month.

“For the period he has been living at my rental house, he has been spending his time in and out of the house. He has been drunk most of the time,” said Koech.

Inside Langat’s house, a new Bible lay on a stool beside his unmade bed. 

A framed graduation picture of Langat sandwiched between his mother and a senior county official hung on the wall.