Release photos of rape, murder suspect, police told

By ROBERT WANYONYI

Bungoma, Kenya: Leaders in Bungoma County have urged the police to release photos of the suspect who raped and murdered a woman and her three daughters last week.

Governor Ken Lusaka said it was shocking that almost a week after committing the heinous crime, the suspect – referred to only as Rasto – was still at large.

He said efforts by the public to help police apprehend the culprit had been frustrated by failure by the officers to release his photo.

Mr Lusaka said it was worrying that the murders took place even after the woman had alerted police that the suspect had gone to her house and threatened her with death in front of other villagers.

“It was in the public domain that she had not only been threatened with death on the material day, but also on more than two occasions in court and in front of the magistrate handling her case. This is a matter that must be thoroughly investigated as the events leading to the deaths point to some negligence somewhere,” said Lusaka when he visited the family.

Suspect released

The governor announced that the county government would help the family meet the funeral expenses.

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula, who also visited the family, accused police of laxity.

“How else can one explain such deaths? I also concur with those who have called for the magistrate who handled the case to be investigated to establish the circumstances leading to the suspect’s release,” said Mr Wetang’ula.

He also demanded that the investigations be extended to officers who allegedly received a report from the woman saying she had been threatened by the freed suspect but failed to act.

“I have information that after his release, the suspect continued issuing threats to the now deceased woman and even roamed the village freely, entertaining himself and his accomplices with traditional liquor. What were the police doing all this time? Or were they also accomplices to this crime?” asked Wetang’ula.

He said the crime wave in the area was bad for the county that is trying to attract investors and urged the national government to ensure that the deteriorating security situation was arrested.

Lost glory

“If overhauling the security and judicial organs in the area is what it will take for Bungoma to regain its lost glory as a haven of peace and tranquility, so be it,” said Wetang’ula.

Meanwhile, Bungoma County Commissioner Maalim Mohammed has directed all Sub-county Security and Intelligent committees to round up all known hardcore criminals in their areas of jurisdiction.

Mr Maalim announced that the County Security Intelligence Committee has already established a functional unit of 17,482 committees under the Nyumba Kumi Initiative.

“We have also established a county hotline number – 0726323112 – and we appeal to the public to use it to report suspected criminals to the police,” said Mohammed.

He condemned last week’s killing of the woman and her three daughters at their home in Wekelekha village in Bumula constituency by the suspect, whom she had earlier sued for attempting to rape her in December last year.

Mohammed called for investigations into the handling of the deceased woman’s case and the circumstances around the suspect’s release.