Man killed after quarrel over cigarette

By ANTONY GITONGA       

KENYA: A fight over a cigarette in Mai Mahiu town Naivasha ended tragically after a man stabbed his colleague to death.

The suspect, who has since gone into hiding, stabbed a lorry driver on the neck following a heated exchange.

Following the Sunday incident, sand harvesters threatened to hold a demonstration as police launched a man hunt for the suspect.

Trouble started after the driver went to buy a cigarette in one of the shops after parking his lorry, which was loaded with sand, at the trading centre.

According to a witness Peter Njoroge, the suspect tried to borrow a cigarette from the driver, but the latter declined. Njoroge noted that the two then exchanged harsh words before the suspect stabbed the driver on the neck with a knife.

Suspect fled

“The suspect drew a knife and stabbed the driver on the neck before fleeing,” he said.

Naivasha OCPD Charles Kortok confirmed the incident, noting that the driver was pronounced dead on arrival at Kijabe Mission Hospital.

“We have launched investigation into the incident and we hope to apprehend the suspect,” said the police boss.

Elsewhere, Naivasha residents were left in shock after they stumbled on the carcasses of three donkeys that had been slaughtered and their meat carted away.

The carcasses were found near the Naivasha-Kinangop junction by water vendors who had been searching for them.

This brought to seven the number of donkeys that have been found slaughtered in the town in the last one week. One of the water vendors said the donkeys went missing on Saturday evening.