Man admits killing son after quarrel

By FRED KIBOR

ELGEYO/MARAKWET, KENYA: A middle-aged man stunned a court in Iten after he admitted he killed his 20-year-old son following a quarrel.

Philip Maiyo Rotich, arraigned before Iten acting Senior Resident Magistrate Rose Ndombi, admitted that he killed his son after his incessant complaints about his mother’s death and threats.

Rotich was charged that on December 6 at Samar village in Marakwet West district he killed Joseph Cheptoo Maiyo alias Julius Cheptoo Maiyo.

When he was first arraigned in court, the accused pleaded guilty but the court warned him of dire consequences for admitting the offence and in turn ordered a psychiatric examination on him before being put on trial again. However, he was found fit to stand trial.

The court heard that on the material day, the two were in the house when a quarrel ensued.

Prosecutor Tom Chitira told the court that according to the postmortem report, the accused stabbed his son with an arrow.

He was rushed to Arror health centre but was referred to Iten County Referral Hospital where he died on arrival.

In mitigation, the accused asked the court for leniency saying he was annoyed by his son’s incessant threats to raze their houses with claims that he was responsible for his wife’s death.

Poisoned arrow

He further told the court his son was stealing his money and other household goods besides habitual insults. The court however ordered for a family background report from the probation officers before delivering its ruling on the matter.

The case will be mentioned on January 8.

Two weeks ago in the same area, a father killed his son following a domestic quarrel over sufurias.

The son, who had married recently, reportedly wrestled the old man to the ground and escaped with a sufuria.

His father then shot him with a poisoned arrow.