Shock as villagers lynch, bury suspect in murder of three children

A man suspected to have shot dead three children over a family feud in Elgeyo Marakwet County on Monday has been killed and buried by an angry mob

The suspect David Kipkorir Yano who has been on the run since shooting the three minors aged between four and ten years in Kapker Village, Marakwet East Constituency was spotted in Kabulwo area, Keiyo North Constituency by residents who identified him on Thursday.

Mr Kipkorir had on the wee hours of Monday, walked 15 kilometres from his Kasige village to his in-laws' house in Kapker village where his estranged wife Nancy Jebet had been living for the past three months with an ill motive of shooting dead the spouse over unclear reasons.

One of the slain children Ivyne Jepchumba, 4, is Jebet’s daughter whom she had sired with another man before marrying the suspect.

Faith Jemeli, 8, and Justine Kemboi, 10, who were pupils at Mgeno and Kapchebau Primary schools respectively were shot dead.

It is said the suspect was arrested by angry residents who took him to his Kasige Village in Marakwet East where he was reportedly killed by an angry mob at about 2:30 pm and buried moments later.

Kasige residents who did not want to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter said villagers who were angered by Kipkorir’s actions descended on him.

“He was attacked and buried by locals who said he had ashamed the village by killing innocent children. Police were not involved after the citizen's arrest,” the resident told The Standard.

The resident said when the suspect arrived in the village, he was forced to surrender the firearm he used to kill the three children before he was lynched.

Marakwet East Deputy County Commissioner Stephen Sangolo said police officers received information of the suspect’s arrest but when they went to the village, they discovered he had been killed by unknown persons.

“We received information from some residents who have been helping us trace the suspect. But we discovered later that he had been killed under unclear circumstances,” Mr sangolo said.

According to reports, the suspect, armed with an AK47 rifle walked from his Kasige Village home to his in-laws' house located about 15 kilometres away in Kapker Village and sprayed five children and a 20-year-old woman with bullets, killing the three children on the spot at midnight.

Jebet’s family said had on Wednesday claimed that they were receiving threats from the suspect and asked the police to track him down and charge him in court.

Jebet’s sister Viola Jeruto who was taking care of the injured at the Iten County Referral Hospital said the suspect is armed and dangerous and asked the state to intensify hunt for him.

“A killing of such an unimaginable magnitude has never happened in our village. We are now helpless and we are calling on the state to track down and arrest the suspect. We are suffering,” Ms Jeruto said.