Police are investigating three separate murder incidents reported over the weekend in Nairobi, Embu, and Siaya counties, highlighting the growing wave of violence linked to disputes over relationships, money, and land.
In Nairobi, a 25-year-old man lost his life following a violent confrontation at a lodging in Kamukunji. The victim, identified as Barnabas Oketch, had gone to meet his girlfriend at a hotel along Duruma Road on Saturday morning. On arrival, he found her in the company of another man, sparking a bitter altercation.
During the scuffle, Oketch was struck on the head, leaving him with visible swelling. Guards at the premises intervened and moved him to the waiting area at the reception, while the assailant managed to escape in the chaos. Hours later, Oketch was discovered dead in the same waiting room. His body was later moved to the mortuary for a post-mortem examination.
The woman at the center of the altercation was taken into custody as part of ongoing investigations. Detectives are now pursuing the suspect believed to have assaulted Oketch before fleeing the scene.
In a separate incident in Gachoka, Embu County, residents were shocked by the brutal killing of 70-year-old Danson Maringa. His lifeless body was discovered by the roadside, about 20 meters from his house. Reports indicate that he had been returning home from a local bar when unknown assailants attacked him. His throat had been slit, and he bore four deep cuts on the back of his head. Authorities moved his body to the mortuary as investigations continue to establish the motive behind the killing.
Meanwhile, in Siaya County, a man identified as Julius Odhiambo met his death at the hands of a mob in Ratado, Ugenya. Odhiambo was accused of being behind a murder in the Ugunja area. He was traced to Ratado by angry residents, who pelted him with stones until he died. His body was later taken to the mortuary.
Police have condemned the mob justice, urging residents to refrain from taking the law into their own hands. Authorities emphasized the importance of handing suspects over to security agencies for proper investigation and due process.
The three incidents have once again cast a spotlight on the rise of violent crime across the country. Detectives are working to piece together evidence, track down suspects, and determine the motives behind the killings.
