19 year old killed over alleged relationship with 16 year old girl

Elizabeth Tarus, the mother of Sosthen Kipchumba who was allegedly killed by two assailants at their home in Kipsomba.

A teenage boy was allegedly killed in their home in Kipsomba, Soy constituency, for having an affair with a 16-year-old schoolgirl.

Sosthen Kipchumba, a Form Four leaver, was reportedly accosted by two neighbours on Tuesday evening and clobbered to death.

He died while being rushed to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.

His death sparked protests that saw more than eight houses where the suspects were believed to be hiding torched by vengeful locals.

Locals claimed the torched houses belonged to brewers, who have been selling illicit drinks to the youths suspected to have been involved in the murder.

According to David Tarus, the father of the deceased, two men approached his son’s house and started beating him. His attempts to intervene were thwarted by the panga and stick-wielding attackers.

He dismissed claims by the assailants that his son was in love with the Form Two girl.

Elizabeth Tarus, the mother of the deceased, denied her son was in a relationship with the said girl.

“We are all in pain due to the loss. My son was innocent and we had high hopes in him. He never raised a finger on anyone. He cleared his Fourth Form last year and because he loved sports. He has been training in Kapsabet in anticipation of landing an athletics scholarship and leave for the United States by the end of the year,” said the mother.

Aunt’s claim

But the girl’s aunt insisted that the two teenagers had been in a relationship for long, and alleged that on the material day, they were together.

“My husband and a relative went to look for my niece and I was not aware of what took place at the home of the deceased. Police officers came and arrested my husband in our house,” she said.

The couple’s house was among those torched.

“It is unfortunate. I lost everything. It is true that my niece has been going to see the boy at their home,” said the woman, adding that the boy’s father had been warned to rein in his son.

Two suspects have been arrested as the police launch investigations into the killing.

Confirming the incident, Eldoret West OCPD Samuel Mutunga who arrived at the scene said the boy died as the suspects attempted to ‘discipline’ him.