Kilifi coconut trader killed in knife attack

KILIFI: A coconut trader and his employee have been killed in attacks in a remote village in the county.

The trader, John Garero from Gandini village, was stabbed with a knife in the chest by his labourer, identified only as Mr Kuhe.

Witnesses say the two had allegedly differed on business matters before the attacker was also beaten to death by residents, on Sunday.

Reports indicate the enraged mob set Kuhe's body on fire after lynching him.

Locals descended on Kuhe with rocks, wooden planks and other weapons after confronting him over Mr Garero's murder.

Chasimba Location Chief Reuben Ndago Monday confirmed the incident, saying the lynching took place at Chasimba bus stage in Chonyi.

Mr Ndago said the two worked together and it could not be immediately established what conspired between them resulting in the killings.

RISING CASES

Villagers in Chasimba have challenged the police to be vigilant and address rising murder cases.

Ndago said Garero was a famous coconut trader in Chonyi who bought raw nuts and exported them to Tanzania.

The administrator said the incident had been reported to Kilifi Police Station before officers collected the two bodies and took them to Kilifi County Referral Hospital mortuary.

Police in Kilifi Monday said investigations had been launched to establish the motive of the killings.

In a separate incident, a robbery with violence suspect who police allege was a member of a criminal gang was arrested in Mombasa after he robbed a pedestrian of a mobile phone and money.

Mombasa OCPD Martin Asin said the suspect, 28-year-old Dumilla Yunis, from Majengo was arrested at Mombasa's Saba Saba on Sunday after he stole a Nokia phone and Sh2,500 from Neema Karisa.