West Pokot man lynched after hacking grandfather to death

 

Crime scene.

A 27-year-old man was lynched by a mob moments after he had been linked to the murder of his 76-year-old grandfather in Lomut, West Pokot County.

Police said the incident happened on Monday, September 2 in the morning in the village.

The body of Kapelinyang Kasakek was found in his house with head injuries.

According to the police, the body was discovered in the morning by his grandchildren who had gone to check on him.

The assailant was also his grandchild and it is not clear what prompted the fatal hacking.

The body was found in a pool of blood and had injuries in the head, back, and hands.

An axe lay next to the body and is believed to have been the killer's weapon, police said.

 Police said the children raised an alarm alerting their parents and the villagers at large.

It was then one Keti Kapel, 27 was traced and stoned to death over the fatal attack of the older man.

The suspect was found hiding in a locked room and subjected to mob lynching.

Police said they are investigating a murder in both incidents.

The bodies were moved to the Kapenguria Hospital mortuary pending autopsy and other investigations, police said.

Police said they are yet to establish the motive of the incident that prompted the mob to lynch the suspect.

Cases of mob lynching have been on the rise in urban and rural areas in the country.

Police authorities discourage mob lynching and want suspects to be surrendered to authorities for processing and possible prosecution.

Police say up to four cases are reported weekly which they term alarming.

They have since urged both national and county governments to launch civic education programmes that can help address the menace at large.

by CYRUS OMBATI