Mob attacks Standard Group CEO Sam Shollei’s son in Uasin Gishu

The Standard Group CEO Sam Shollei (right) and his wife Gladys (second left) listen to their son Keeto and two of his friends including Jean Card, a Burundian (left) who were attacked at Chepkongony in Uasin Gishu County yesterday. [Photo: Peter Ochieng/Standard]

By Silah Koskei

Eldoret, Kenya: Son to Standard Media Group Chief Executive Officer Sam Shollei Wednesday escaped death by a whisker after a mob attacked him and his two friends in Chepkongony, Uasin Gishu.

Keeto, 16, and two friends were driving to his grandmother’s house, when a white lorry blocked them at Chemenei trading centre in Kipchamo location. They attempted to drive back to where they had come from but a group of about 300 youths accosted them.

The group started stoning the car, claiming the three were thugs. Keeto told The Standard that they were ordered to get out of the car.

 “While down on our knees, one villager challenged me to call my parents to explain to them about the incident so that they may be aware of the happenings,” said Keeto.

His mother, former Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Gladys Shollei, arrived half an hour later in the company of two of her workers.

 “It was the most frightening moment in my life especially after receiving a call from my son’s mobile and the caller stating that my son would be killed if I do not arrive at the scene of the incident,” she said.

She added: “I know how well disciplined my kids are, and to make accusations that they are thugs and are armed with a pistol was outrageous.”

She said one villager had his bow aimed at her son’s heart ready to release the arrow but she protected him by standing between her son and the villager.

“I told the man to kill me and spare my son and his colleagues whom I knew were innocent and victims of mistaken identity,” she said.

“One old man who appeared to be among the ringleaders hit my son’s friend with his rungu on the shoulder shouting that the kids were indeed thieves and that the car they were travelling in had been driving around the area for sometime,” she added.

When officers from the Plateau police post arrived, the youth fled the scene “for fear of being victimised”.

Area chief George Tarus condemned the incident, saying the locals did not alert the police.

He said residents failed to provide information to the police after claims that a suspicious car was sighted in the area.

Establish motive

He said investigations have commenced to establish the motive of the attack, adding that those who initiated it would be brought to book.

“The action they took is against the law. They should have engaged with the kids before embarking on stoning them,” he said.

Tarus said the location has been peaceful with constant meetings in the area over proper channels of undertaking security issues.