Police hunting two for allegedly killing brother over family property

By Fred Kibor

MARAKWET, KENYA: Police in Marakwet West district have launched a manhunt to arrest two men who killed their younger brother on disagreement over family property.

The three brothers have been entangled in a long-standing dispute over family land and livestock in their Kapline village home in Kuserwo West location.

Villagers told The Standard that the elder brothers wanted to apportion themselves larger share of the family property but the younger one held a contrary opinion which is believed to have infuriated the two and conspired to kill him.

According to area assistant chief Francis Kanda, the deceased died as a result of severe head injuries after his brothers stoned and speared him with sharpened sticks.

“The suspects were very wild, they even prevented villagers from taking the deceased to hospital but waited till he died,” said the assistant chief.

He said two weeks ago he had sent police officers to arrest the two men for severely beating their brother but had promised to reform after settling the matter locally.

After committing the crime, Mr Kanda said, the two brothers vanished into a nearby forest after threatening to kill the other villagers who wanted to subdue them.

Local OCPD Philip Opiyo said they have launched investigations into the incident and they are combing the area in a bid to nab the two brothers believed to be hiding in the nearby forest.

The police boss decried the increasing cases of killings in the area arising from land and other family property and urged the locals to make use of elders and other lawful methods of solving the quarrels but not the use of violence.

The body of the slain man was taken by police officers to Kapsowar mission hospital mortuary.