By PHILIP MUASYA

Kitui County; KENYA: Young men armed with crude weapons have set out to hunt for a five-man gang that killed 12 people in Nyanyaa village of Endui location in Kitui County.

The youths numbering about 50 have a clear mission in their minds; to hunt down and kill Kilonzo Musyoka alias Karunyu, a man believed to be the leader of the killer-gang.

They told The Standard on Saturday how they had been searching for the man.

“We have combed the entire Endui hills and beyond. It is only a matter of time before we capture him,” said Kasyani Mutua, the leader of the group. His troops nodded in unison, some brandishing razor sharp machetes.

And to prove they meant business, the youths raided the home of Karunyu where they found his newly wed wife and 70-year-old mother, Nzoka Mbulo.

They tied the two women with ropes, tossed them in a granary full of sorghum and set it on fire. They stood guard as the women’s cries faded away, thick smoke and fire enveloping the entire granary.

The charred remains were later collected by police. When The Standard on Saturday visited the homestead, smoke was still billowing from the granary.

Two more houses in the homestead were set on fire. “In Kamba tradition, when you commit murder and run, your parents must be killed because their spirits might protect you. Now that his mother is gone, it will be easy to catch him,” said a youth who participated in the macabre revenge attack. There was palpable tension in the neighbourhood as the armed youths continued with their search to smoke out the leader of the killer gang.

Some said Karunyu was also a known bhang addict and peddler but authorities had ignored reports on the same.

On Thursday, three of the suspects were nabbed by the youths and clobbered to death at Malioni area of Waita location.

Police patrols

“We interviewed them thoroughly and they revealed that Karunyu was their leader. They said their mission was not to kill but were ordered to do so by their leader when he realised he had been recognised by the victims,” said George Maithya, the head of Nyanyaa community policing unit.

The youths have however faulted the local police for laxity in investigating the matter. They claim the police have not partnered with them in their patrols. “So they should not tell us to hand any suspect to them,” said a youth.

However, Mwingi OCPD Kipkemboi Birir refuted the claims saying a team of police officers had been dispatched to hunt down the suspect who was yesterday said to be hiding in Kyuso District, 70km away.

Mwingi DCIO Joshua Cheptoo confirmed that one of the suspects was lynched by the mob at Malioni area in Waita Location. 

A security meeting led by Kitui County police commander Cheruto Githinji was called at Nyanyaa trading centre to reassure the residents of their security.

Deputy Commandant of the Administration Police Service Peter Pampa, who is also the Chief of Security operations on Thursday flew to Mwingi accompanied by Mwingi Central MP Joe Mutambu where he assured the residents of more police patrols in the affected areas.

He said a police patrol car would be stationed at Mui to bolster security in the area.

“No criminal or gang of criminals will be allowed to terrorise wananchi. We have assembled a team of undercover police officers to arrest the jailbird whom we have learnt is the cause of these deaths. He comes from the area and is well known by locals,” said Mr Pampa. Karunyu was released on presidential pardon.