Herbalist in court for conducting rituals for guards’ killers

Caskets of the six watchmen who were killed by a group of gang at Kilingili market last week. The requiem mass was held at Kilingili on March 15, 2018. [PHOTO:BENJAMIN SAKWA]

A man said to be a traditional herbalist was on Friday arraigned in connection with the killing of six guards in Vihiga County early this month. 

Omulindi Nono, 76, was arrested after investigators established that the suspects had sought to be cleansed by him so they might not suffer any bad omen after the murders.

This brings to 18 the number of suspects in custody following the killings, who are expected to answer to murder charges.

Seventeen suspects were arraigned on March 6 but could not take plea after the investigators sought for more time to conclude their probe, including recording statements from the witnesses.

Kakamega Resident Magistrate William Lopokoiyit ordered that they be detained at Mbale Police Station in Vihiga for two weeks to facilitate psychiatric tests and postmortem examination on bodies of the victims.

On Friday, Investigating Officer Gilbert Sang told the court Nono had been adversely mentioned by the suspects as one who performed rituals to ensure the killers “are not attacked by evil spirits of the deceased”.

In a sworn affidavit, Mr Sang, who is attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), said he needed six days to conclude his investigation, which might see the suspect being charged with murder or for being an accomplice.

“It is in the interests of justice that the accused be detained for six days so he may give an account of what he knows about the murders. He is also expected to undergo a compulsory mental assessment,” said the investigating officer.

The 18 suspects, two of them minors, are alleged to have murdered Linus Anyiga (74), Thomas Minao (70), Francis Osayo (48), John Ondachi (63) and Charles Kalume (60), who were all guarding businesses at Kilingili market.

The sixth victim died while undergoing treatment at Kakamega County General Hospital.

The investigators have also forwarded the suspects’ cellphones for forensic analysis.

The suspects are set to be subjected to an identification parade once the investigations are concluded.

Mr Lopokoiyit ordered that Nono be remanded with the other suspects for six days and the matter be mentioned on March 20.