Man stabbed to death for putting out bonfire

Barricade erected along Ng'ong Road, Nairobi, March 27, 2023. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

A man was on Wednesday evening stabbed to death in Matisi estate as he tried to extinguish a fire started by opposition protesters.

Joseph Marango, also known as Terminator, was a well-known bouncer in Kitale town.

An eyewitness told The Standard that Marango was attacked by some young people after he doused the fire with water he had fetched from a nearby house.

Feeling threatened, Marango tried to flee the area but was unfortunately caught and attacked by his assailants.

"After he brought water and put out the fire, the youth confronted him. He tried to escape but fell down and that is when the attackers stabbed him and pelted him with stones," said Hussein Omar, a resident.

Mr Omar said that earlier that day, Marango had stopped these same youth from breaking into and looting a shop. He described Marango as a peaceful person who always promoted non-violent protests.

Omar pointed fingers at an unidentified politician, alleging they orchestrated Marango's murder.

"We know the people behind Marango's death. We know a politician who incited the youth to attack Marango because he was against looting of property," said Omar.

Residents demanded that police arrest a local politician whom they accused of exploiting unemployed young people for criminal purposes.

"We are giving the police 24 hours to arrest and charge the politician behind Marango's killing," said a resident who declined to be named.