Candidate butchered, 'drunk' killer lynched afterwards in Bungoma

Samson Simiyu, the pupil’s father, addresses the press at his homestead in Webuye West sub-county yesterday. [Nathan Ochunge, Standard]

A suspect drunk man hacked a class eight pupil to death in Matulo Ward Webuye on Saturday.

Josephat Khwatenge, 61, slashed Sammy Toroi, a pupil at Lugulu Day Boarding, with a machete without provocation.

According to eyewitnesses, the candidate was cut on the neck by the suspect and was pronounced dead on arrival at Lugulu Mission hospital.

The suspect could also train his machete on the elder brother of Master Toroi when he rushed to rescue the pupil. The brother was lucky to survive with chest injuries.

The incidents angered neighbors who immediately stormed the suspect’s house and lynched him.

Samson Simiyu, the pupil’s father, wondered why his neighbour killed his son.

"The two families do not have a grudge for the three decades we have lived together,” said Mr Simiyu.

Mrs Jenipher Khwatenge, the suspect’s wife, said her husband returned home drunk at around 8pm and had an altercation with his family.

“He threatened to kill me, when I pleaded with him to stop assaulting me and our children he picked up a panga and stormed out threatening to attack anybody he would find on the way,” said Ms Khwatenge.

William Khisa, brother to the suspect, termed him "a violent man who abhors advice."