Corpse find leaves locals angry at ex-MP’s forest land

By Michael Wesonga

Residents of Kapsaret in Uasin Gishu County have demanded the immediate clearing of a 400-acre farm owned by a former powerful MP in the Kanu government.

The residents threatened to burn and deforest the land should the owner refuse to do so, saying it is endangering their lives.

This is after the body of a woman believed to be in her thirties was discovered in a thicket on the farm on Friday, causing public uproar.

Paul Biwott, a village elder, said the body was the sixth to be retrieved from the forest since 2010.

“The dense forest has become a slaughterhouse of sorts and that is why we are pleading with the owner to either sell portions or develop property to reduce the dangers associated to it,” he said. The enraged residents blocked the Eldoret-Kapsabet-Kisumu road, which also leads to Eldoret International Airport, for the better part of the day in protest.

Slaughter zone

They vowed to stay put until Governor Jackson Mandago addresses them. It took the intervention of area MP Oscar Sudi to calm down the incensed residents.

Area OCPD Nicholas Maina said the dead body was discovered at about 10am by the public.

“It was difficult to retrieve the body as it took some time to clear the way for its passage through the dense thicket,” he said.

The police believe the woman was killed in the forest because it would have been difficult to ferry a dead body through the dense foliage.

“Her face was charred and infested with maggots. It seems something like a corrosive substance had been poured on her though the rest of the body remained intact and was neatly dressed,” Maina said.

The body is being held at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital morgue.  Fingerprint tests will be conducted to determine its identity.

Vivian Cherobon, a villager, said the forest is used as a dumping point as all the dead bodies found in it belonged to non-residents.

“Some of us get back home as late as 10pm. We could be easy targets for criminals and we are asking the owner to co-operate and the police to be more vigilant,” she said.

Sub-County Administrator Philip Kimutai asked the residents for calm as police review their security concerns and needs.

“We are asking the residents not to take the law into their hands  because the governor has been adequately briefed on the matter. They should also take the Nyumba Kumi Initiative seriously,” he said.

Kapsaret Chief Henry Torom said no property was destroyed during the protest.