Family in murder target fear seeks police protection

Mrs Mary Atieno Abudho , 73 who was tortured and murdered at Rabuor village in Kisumu. Photo: Courtesy/ Standard

The family of 73-year-old woman murdered by a gang is in fear after the gang has turned on them.

Mary Atieno Abudho was early this week tortured, sexually abused, strangled and killed by attackers who also bruised her 14-year-old son at Rabuor in Kisumu County.

Three days after the murder, Abudho’s other child, Maurine Abudho, was attacked and seriously injured in her home in a neighbouring village.

Yesterday George Bwana, a member of the family, appealed to police to protect the household, saying killers of her aunt appeared determined to eliminate the entire family.

“I think those people are not ordinary thieves. There is something sinister in the attacks. I appeal to the police to protect her two children who are in hospital,” said Mr Bwana.

“I have seen the postmortem report and it shows my aunt was murdered in a most chilling manner. They cracked her skull, broke her arms and legs, hit her with blunt objects and forced beer bottles in her genitals,” he added.

According to Ann Omuga, an aunt to Ms Abudho, the respected former teacher was attacked by a gang of robbers that drilled a hole on her house’s wall to gain entry, and later beat her grandson, leaving him for dead.

The grandson is nursing serious injuries at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.

The robbers stole a TV, mobile phone and a decoder.

Kisumu County Commander Job Boronjo said police had launched investigations.

Boronjo asked the public to make reports at the police station that may lead to arrest of the killers.

Neighbours realised Abudho was missing and decided to check on her only to find her body lying in a pool of blood.