Emotional sendoff for murdered Kericho couple and their child

 

The caskets bearing the remains of the Kericho couple who were murdered alongside their baby in Melit area.

                              

Sorrowful tears flowed freely during the burial service of the murdered Kericho couple and their child.

The late Bernard Langat (38), his wife Adijah Langat (32) and their five year-old son, Abel Kipkorir were on March 1, murdered in cold blood at their Melit home, 3kms from Kericho town.

Only the couple's youngest child, a three-month-old baby girl survived the incident.

Speaking during the burial service held at Sigowet in Soin-Sigowet constituency, Kericho leaders led by Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, Belgut Member of Parliament Nelson Koech and Members of County Assembly (MCA) vowed to deal ruthlessly with criminal elements in the area.

"Intelligence agencies must be on top of their game. If the government will wait anymore for a criminal act to take place before it can act, we as Kericho residents will take the law into our own hands," said Koech.

"Let criminals be warned that next time we catch up with them, they are not going to survive. We will lynch and torch them including their gateway vehicles and other properties," Koech added.

On Wednesday, Kericho Senior Resident magistrate Bernard Rugut authorised police to hold four suspects behind the killing for 20 days.

A team dispatched by the Director of Criminal Investigations on Tuesday arrested Simeon Kipngeno Sigei, Simeon Kipkemoi Rotich, Leonard Kibet Korir and Neddy Cheptim Kibet over the murder.

According to Kericho Senator, the suspects in custody are former jailbirds who met in a Naivasha jail while servicing various sentences.

"We want an operation similar to that which was conducted in Mt Elgon to be undertaken in Kericho. The special crimes prevention team dispatched to Kericho must not leave until all gang members are terminated," he said.