Mother seeks justice for son lynched by mob

A mother is seeking justice for her son who was allegedly lynched by traders at Shiatsala market in Butere constituency, Kakamega county.

Sources who spoke to The Standard said the twin brothers had developed a habit of beating and harassing traders when drunk.

The sources said on Saturday, the late Wilson Lubanga was called by his twin brother to rescue him from the mob only for them to turn against him.

The deceased's mother Rose Opuka, said her daughter-in-law called to inform her that her husband had gone to rescue his twin brother from a mob.

"The wife to my son called me and told me that my son had gone to rescue his brother at Shiatsala market from a mob. However few minutes later I received a call that Lubanga was also under attack in the same market that also hosts a Chang'aa den. I followed up on the matter and I was told that the mob turned against Lubanga and he is in a bad state," said Ms Opuka.

She said she was shocked to find her son lying in a pool of blood.

"It was so devastating to see my son lying in a pool of blood and he was already dead, this brother was rescued by police," she said.

Opuka now wants the police to investigate the matter and ensure the culprits are brought to book.

"Those who killed my son are known but witnesses fear naming them, I am calling on the relevant agencies to investigate the matter and ensure that my son gets justice and the killers are brought to book," she said.

One of the traders said the twin brothers had developed a bad habit of assaulting them after visiting the Chang'aa den and on the fateful day, they were fed up with the habit leading to the horrific incident.

"The two brothers have developed a habit of harassing traders and those living around the market and on Saturday one of the brothers after coming from his usual Chang'aa den started attacking traders as usual and traders this time round turned against him forcing him to call his twin brother to help him," said one of the traders.

"When his twin brother arrived, he was sober and the mob turned against him and lynched him to death but the stubborn brother was rescued by police officers rescued," said the trader.

Butere Sub-County Police Commander Julius Kiptoo said police have launched investigations into the incident and urged locals to desist from taking the law into their own hands.

"One person aged 25 was indeed killed by the mob and I have been told they were twin brothers, we are being told one was drunk before the horrific incident happened but police have commenced the investigations to establish what exactly happened, and those who will be found culpable will face the law," said Kiptoo.