Prepare for the worst, man in Kitui slaughter warns

By Philip Muasya

Kitui, Kenya: The man believed to be behind the gruesome killings of 12 people at Nyanyaa village in Kitui County on Saturday evening made a threatening call to one of his neighbours.

The dreaded Karunyu, whose real name is Kilonzo Musyoka, called Peninah Kalunge and demanded to know why she did not ‘protect’ his wife and mother from being lynched by the public.

Speaking to The Standard Sunday at her home, Kalunge said: “He called me and asked where I was as villages burned his mother and wife alive. He enquired what I did as his neighbour to protect them.”

The shaken woman said she defended herself by telling him that she was not around at the time of the attack. Karunyu, whose voice Kalunge said she could clearly identify over the telephone, told her that he had information she participated in the killing of his family and should prepare for the worst.

“From the voice it was clearly him. He sounded very arrogant. He told me he will return to the village soon, this time with a bang,” she said as she trembled.

The suspect then demanded to talk to her husband, Mwenga Mutisya, claiming he had something urgent to discuss with him but the woman told him he was not around.

He is then said to have laughed sarcastically before disconnecting the line.

The woman’s family has already relocated to a relative’s home fearing an attack.

Kalunge’s homestead is about 600 metres from Karunyu’s home where his mother and wife were burnt alive. Kalunge and Mwendwa Musyoka, the suspect’s elder brother, said they were on the suspect’s wanted list alongside two other villagers.

“I fear for my family’s lives after what I saw,” she said.

Karunyu served time in Kamiti Prison for robbery with violence and murder. On Thursday last week, Karunyu led a five man gang in butchering 12 people using machetes and axes, among them his elder brother Munyoki Musyoka and his three children.

The two had quarreled over a family land but the others were victims of robbery.

Following the killings, youths reacted by killing his aged mother and wife, whom they burnt alive in a sorghum granary. So far, 18 people have been killed among them 12 victims.

Ferried thugs

Four suspected members of the gang were lynched by locals at Malioni area of Waita location.

Detectives are tracking the number which Karunyu is said to have used to make the call.

Deputy Commandant of the Administration Police Service Peter Pamba, who is also the Chief of Security Operations, Sunday told The Standard through a phone call that the signal appeared to have originated in Huruma, Nairobi.

“We suspect he ferried the killer gang from Huruma, but we are trailing him. The residents should rest easy because soon we will have the guy,” Pampa said, adding that once arrested.

Pampa promised that an AP camp would be set up at Nyanyaa Trading Centre to boost security in the area.

A team of Administration Police officers and their regular counterparts have joined the local youths in combing the vast Endui Hills where Karunyu and his gang are believed to have vanished into.

“Our officers will camp there until peace and normalcy returns,” said Mwingi Central AP boss Ali Hussein.

The incident took place in Nyanyaa village, some 40km from Mwingi town Thursday morning. Residents woke up to the horrifying sight of bodies strewn around the compounds of four families.

Three children aged between five and 14 were among those hacked to death during the attack that occurred between 1am and 3am in the village located in Endui location, Mwingi Central District.

The raiders, who were armed with machetes, axes, bows and arrows, slashed the victims to death.