Kericho man who beheaded neighbour arrested at Sossiot

Dennis Korir who allegedly beheaded a neighbour and injured two others at Menet village in Soin/Sigowet constituency. He was arrested at Sosiot trading centre. [Standard]

Police in Kericho have arrested a 25-year-old man who went berserk and beheaded his a neighbour, slashed two others before fleeing.

Belgut police boss Phillip Okello said Dennis Korir was arrested at Sossiot trading centre where he had fled to after killing his neighbour on Friday night.

"The suspect who went into hiding in a nearby maize plantation was arrested around 4am. Officers are back at the scene to retrieve the machete the suspect used," he said.

Korir claimed during the interrogation that he had dumped the machete in a pit latrine.

He said by the time the suspect committed the offence, he was allegedly high on a local gin.

"We believe there must be a reason why the suspect attacked his neighbours. Interrogation is still going on," said Okello.

 Korir, arrived at Samuel Ngetich’s compound armed with a panga, picked a quarrel with him and attacked him, killing him on the spot.

Stanley Kaptich, a witness, said he was at home with the deceased when the armed attacker arrived.

Their attempts to stop Korir proved futile after he attacked other neighbours, cutting them with the machete.

“We tried to arrest the suspect, but he also cut Nehemiah Kaptich (40) on the head and Josephine Langat on her hand,” he told the police.

Kericho County Police Commander James Mugera said Korir fled the scene with the panga after the attack.

The two injured victims were taken to Sigowet Sub-County Hospital, where they were given First Aid before being referred to Kericho County Hospital.

 The body of the deceased was moved to Sigowet Sub County Hospital mortuary.

The latest incident came barely a day after a tea picker at Cheborgei village in Bureti killed her employer over a Sh150 debt. The woman was arrested at her hideout in Cheborgei trading centre.

She fled after allegedly stabbing Joseph Sang, 62, over the day’s wages.

Sang was taken to the AIC Mission Hospital but died minutes after arrival. Gilbert Kirui, his cousin, said the woman accosted Sang outside the tea buying centre where he had gone to deliver the day’s green leaf for transportation.