Emotional send-off for murdered teacher

Mourners view the body of the late Patrick Kipkulei.[Photo:Boniface Thuku/Standard]

By Vincent Mabatuk

Mourners came from far and wide for the burial of Patrick Kipkulei Ngetuny in Kures village, Mogotio District, over the weekend buried.

Many of them were fellow teachers and students. Some were old students the teacher, who had taught at Kaparbesi Primary School for 23 years, had influenced in different ways in their formative years.

Other mourners included local MP Hellen Sambili, Kenya National Union of Teachers officials and other leaders.

Rich man

Kipkulei, a 50-year-old bachelor, was the school's deputy principal and a rich man by local standards. He was found dead on the morning of September 21 outside his house next to a maize store. Inside his house was half prepared dinner.

His head had been cracked open by a fatal blow. Police investigating the murder suspect the blow was caused by a blunt object.

He was last seen with his younger brother, John Chepyator Ngetuny, who disappeared the night he died and is being sought by police as the prime suspect.

At the burial, speakers eulogised Kipkulei as his two sisters, who sat near the coffin carrying his remains, wiped away tears. Kipkulei, in a portrait on the coffin, humbly 'looked' at the mourners.

In low tones, mourners discussed the beastly murder. The speakers' voices cracked with emotion as they remembered him and condemned the killing. Some broke down, making those in attendance to also reach for handkerchiefs to dry their eyes.

A neighbour, Pauline Tarus, said although the teacher was dead, his spirit lives on.

“The family must remain in peace and turn to God for forgiveness and allow the law to take its course,” said Tarus.

Chepyator, who was Kipkulei's only brother, was a polygamous man and cattle trader.

According to neighbours, he had been lately grappling with the challenge of providing for his sizeable family and paying fees for his children.

Their first-born sister, Esther Teriki, says her late brother was hardworking and polite. He never bothered anybody.

As Kipkulei's age advanced, Teriki was often worried about his bachelorhood and often inquired about his plans of marrying but since the two sisters were married and raising their families, contact with the brothers was not frequent.

The two brothers lived about a kilometre apart. Their parents had died much earlier.

Until last year, the brothers stayed in their parents' farm, a 40-hectare piece of land. When it was subdivided, Chepyator decided to sell his share and bought  land across the road where he settled with his two wives and children.

See him alive

Wilson Chebor, 62, who had worked for Kipkulei for the last one year was the last person to see him alive.

On the day before he was found dead, Chebor says, his master had left for Nakuru in the morning but returned at 6pm. That is when his missing brother joined them in the worker's house where they took shelter as it was raining then.

In the house, he said, the three sat on a bed and chatted normally. When the rains stopped, Chepyator left but returned and sat at the same position without saying anything. Then he left.

After a few instructions as was  routine, his employer left for his house about 50m away.

Chebor woke up the following morning and embarked on the chores assigned. It was while he was working that he received a call from the suspect's second wife demanding to know whether he had spent the night in the house the previous night.

She immediately disconnected her phone without divulging more details and the motive of the inquiry. Immediately, he called his boss six times to find out more about the bizarre call but the phone was unanswered.

So he went back home only to find a huge crowd and armed police officers in his boss' compound.

“I have recorded my statement and pray that one day the person who killed him will be brought to book,” says Chebor.

The suspect's second wife said she knew nothing and should not be disturbed over the matter.

Police said they recovered a blood-stained jacket and trouser wrapped in a plastic bag under the suspect's bed which they will be relying on as exhibits.

Relatives suspect his huge wealth - hundreds of livestock sheep and other investments - must have motivated the murderer.

Koibatek OCPD Karisa Mwaringa who is in charge of the area said they are following crucial leads to apprehend the suspect.

“He should submit himself to any police station because he can run but not hide,” said Mwaringa.