Family halts burying of kin until head is found

A family in Baringo County has boycotted burying their kin whose decapitated body was found in a forest until his head is found.

James Kiprop, 38, is said to have been killed and his body dumped at Natasha Forest in Eldama Ravine.

The father of the deceased, Benson Tuwett, said the family with help from well-wishers have searched for the head, but without success.

"We can't bury our son until his head is found, it is against our culture. A team has been searching tirelessly hoping that it will be found to accord him a proper sendoff," he said.

Tuwett said on December 31, his son's friend and neighbour, Dennis Rono, visited him at his home stating that he had urgent information.

"His friend came to our house while we were having tea and requested that he wanted to have a private conversation with Kiprop. They went outside and since then we have never known what they talked about," said Tuwett.

The following day, Rono visited the homestead again and left in the company of Kiprop. They returned in the evening, and this was the last time Kiprop was seen alive.

"We don't know if our son left in the night or in the morning. What we know is that at around 9pm, he went to sleep. When his mother went to his house in the morning requesting help to milk the cow, he was nowhere to be seen," he said.

His friend Rono made one last visit to the homestead and has never been seen since.

Koibatek sub-county Police Commander Joseph Ongaya said they are yet to find the Kiprop's head and the main suspect whose phone has been switched off since the incident.

"We are doing our best in helping locate the main suspect who will tell us where the head is," Ongaya said.