Fourteen houses torched in row over school book torn by pupil

Nelson Chemitei salvages belongings in his house which was torched by arsonists in a row sparked by a pupil ripping a book in Korongoi, Elgeyo Marakwet County. [Stephen Rutto, Standard]

Fourteen families from Elgeyo Marakwet County have been spending in the cold after their houses were set on fire in an alleged revenge mission.

Authorities said the 14 houses burnt down in Korongoi, Kapcherop division, Marakwet West sub-county belonged to one extended family.

More than 30 villagers, armed with machetes, descended on the homes last Wednesday night to avenge an incident in which a pupil allegedly tore a book belonging to a classmate.

Reports by the authorities indicated that the arsonists torched houses belonging to extended family members of Johana Chemitei and his brother William Chemitei.

Trouble started two weeks ago after a pupil from the family was accused of tearing a classmate’s exercise book at a local primary school.

Nelson Chemitei said villagers accused one of his brothers whose son allegedly tore a classmate's book of practising sorcery.

“We were shocked when they linked the tearing of the book to witchcraft. We don’t know how sorcery is practised. It was claimed that the boy tore the book and burnt it and they concluded that his father was a witch,” Chemitei said.

According to Chemitei, locals from the neighbouring Tembu and Kipteber villages ganged up to burn the houses.

He said the matter was immediately reported to the police, but no suspect had been arrested by yesterday, a week after the arson attack happened.

Chemitei said angry locals stormed the extended family farm at around 8pm and started by torching a grass-thatched house where his niece Cecilia Cheruiyot and her children lived.

"We reported the matter to the police and they visited the scene but they are yet to arrest the suspects,” said Chemitei.

He added: “We want state agencies to help us get justice. It is unfair that our family is being persecuted and property worth millions destroyed and the perpetrators are free.”

His wife Elizabeth Nelson said one of her children who was sitting KCPE exam was traumatised by what happened.

“We are spending nights in maize plantations. My daughter who is doing her KCPE exam is devastated. She has been walking to school from the maize plantation where we hid after our two-bedroomed house and kitchen were burnt by the irate locals,” she said. 

Elizabeth claimed that she knew some of the locals who torched her house and asked authorities to arrest them.

Harrison Kibet, 21, who was away during the arson attack said he has been looking for his parents since the incident.

“I can’t trace my parents following the attack. It is a rainy season and I don’t know where my parents are. I have been trying to call them but their phones have been switched off,” Kibet said.

Kapcherop Division Assistant Deputy County Commissioner Abdulrahman Karnen said investigations into the arson attack were underway.