Community policing leader murdered, body dumped in maize farm in Kisii

By Robert Nyasato

Kisii, Kenya: Security agencies in Kisii have been thrown into a spin following the brutal murder of a Community Policing leader.

By Friday, police were trying to piece together under what circumstances Nicolus Momanyi was killed and his remains dumped in a maize farm in Nyakiogiro near his Nyemorenyo home, in Nyatieko Location of Kisii District.

Until he was slain by yet to be known assailants, Momanyi was the Chairman of Community Policing for Nyatikeo Location.

According to his colleagues, Momanyi left Kisii Town for home aboard a motorcycle at around 8 pm on Thursday but never reached home.

Jose Art, his colleague told The Standard that Momanyi’s remains were discovered in a maize farm and preliminary investigations showed he was murdered elsewhere before the body was dragged to the scene.

“This is very unfortunate coming at a time when community policing has been very hard on criminal elements,” Jose remarked.

Kisii Divisional Criminal Investigations Department (DCIO) boss, Mr David Mwenze said they had launched investigations into the incident and urged members of the public to volunteer information to help them unravel the killings.

The murder comes in the wake of a recent brutal attack on another Community Policing member only identified as Mogere. He survived the attack and is recuperating at Tenwek Mission Hospital in Bomet County with multiple body cuts.

Mwenze said they were following vital leads including if the attacks are retaliatory following differences pitying the policing groups.

“A team is already on the ground to also find out what differences exist between the elected members of the community policing and those who wished to join the group but were not elected,” said the DCIO.

Lately, cases of isolated criminal activities including robberies and murders have been blamed on a renegade squad of the community policing.