Trio who ‘whipped’ brother to death flee

By VINCENT MABATUK

Three brothers from Barpelo village in Chemolingot, Baringo County are on the run after they allegedly beat their brother to death and buried his body secretly.

The suspects, according to the Provincial Administration, intended to discipline their sibling after he was accused of having a love affair with somebody’s wife.

He succumbed to injuries last week. Area assistant chief Nelson Lochama, who is said to have authorised the punitive punishment commonly known as sita sita, was arrested last Friday and locked up at Nginyang Police Station but was later released on condition that he would pursue the trio and arrest them or carry the burden.

Tiaty Deputy County Commissioner Daniel Kurui said the incident almost went unnoticed after the chief, who is said to come from the same family, attempted to cover it up by instructing the villagers to bury the body immediately.

Cows or goats

Kurui said the chief would take full responsibility unless he produced the culprits in 14 days.

“It was sad but immediately the report reached my office, I ordered for exhumation of the body, which is now in Kabarnet District Hospital Mortuary. This is heinous act and those behind it will face full force of the law,” said the commissioner.

According to Pokot culture, a man discovered to have an extramarital affair with someone else’s wife and proven beyond any reasonable doubt is first subjected to a thorough beating upon confession and ordered to pay six goats and six cows to the husband. Sometimes relatives offer the animals.

Although the suspects would face the law, Mzee Lokobo Tekit, a village elder stated that the three must pay another price called Lapai, in which the deceased’s family is supposed to raid the accused’s home and drive away as many animals as they wish.