Crime: Prominent businessman killed in Elgeyo Marakwet County

ELDORET, KENYA: Tension is high in Kapyego, Elgeyo Marakwet County after a prominent businessman was shot dead in cold blood by unknown gunmen on Monday evening while taking a shower.

The gunmen whose number was not immediately established and armed with machetes and guns killed Philemon Yego, alias Utalii, 35, at his Kapyego home before disappearing into the cover of darkness without stealing anything.

The trader who operates a shop besides offering shylock services at Kapyego trading center sustained deep machete cuts on the head and gunshot wounds.

Residents who responded upon hearing the gunshots rushed to the homestead where they found the deceased on the ground bleeding profusely. He succumbed to the injuries on the way to hospital.

"The thugs trailed him to his house where they found him taking a shower. They asked him for sh 500 000 before shooting him fatally thrice," said Isaac Kosgei, a local.

He said, the thugs came with specific instructions to kill him because the trader did not resist their demands to give them money but was shot as he attempted to negotiate with them.

"Crime is rampant in this area and we want the security team to up their game because there is a lot of laxity on their part. There are no patrols in the area despite the frequent security threats," he protested.