Man accused of killing his mother over maize theft

Judy Konya, 50 was a lab technician at St Joseph Girls Kitale. [iStockphoto]

Police in Trans Nzoia County are looking for a man accused of killing his mother.

Judy Konya, 50, a lab technician at St Joseph Girls Kitale, was allegedly killed after an argument with her son over theft of a 90kg bag of maize.

Konya went missing on October 18 from her home in Toll village, Kiminini Sub-county. Her body was found in Kiminini River, less than 1km from the home, on Saturday.

On October 10, the family harvested and shelled maize. It is reported that on October 17, Konya realised that one bag of maize was missing and she tried to ask her son about it.

This prompted an argument between them, with the man reportedly threatening to kill his mother.

The woman reported the theft of the maize and the threats to her husband, John Barasa, a retired teacher.

Barasa, who was not at home, is said to have advised his wife to report the matter to the police but she declined.

A member of the family who later realised that both the woman and her son were missing alerted the villager elder who in turn informed the police.

Kiminini OCPD John Onditi said the woman's body was spotted at the river and retrieved. He said they are treating the matter as murder.

Rosebella Orwaru, the principal of St Joseph Girls, termed the incident as regrettable.

"It is a big shock to us. We have lost a very committed worker," Orwaru told The Standard.

Kiminini MP Maurice Bisau called for amicable solution to family feuds to stop unnecessary deaths.