Shock as ‘boda boda’ rider kills villager

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Teso South MP Mary Emase at the scene where seven houses were burnt down in Busia County on Sunday.  [PHOTOS: RENSON BULUMA and BENJAMIN SAKWA/STANDARD]

By KENNEDY OKWACH and ERIC LUNGAI

Vihiga and Busia counties: Grief struck Ebutui village in Emuhaya constituency after a boda boda operator and an accomplice allegedly hacked a villager to death.

In revenge, the victim’s relatives burned the homestead of the suspected killers, destroyed property and killed domestic animals in the compound.

The deceased is said to have quarrelled with a boda boda operator some time back. The misunderstanding led to a fight in which the suspect suffered injuries. The suspect is suspected to have been on a revenge mission when he attacked the deceased.

“Some time back, they had a fight and the suspect was beaten by the victim. He got injured and I think the suspect was revenging,” said Julius Karani, the suspect’s neighbour.

Emuhaya OCPD Benson Kilonzo said the two had a fight after falling out in the past.

“It’s reported that the two had fallen out with each some time back. The suspect and a friend attacked the deceased on the road and stabbed him. Police are pursuing them,” he said.

A brother to the suspect, Bernard Kwachu, said he suffered a mental disease last year and was still on medication. He said they were shocked with the incident and asked the police to deal with him as the law stipulates.

“Last year, he was admitted to hospital for mental illness. He was discharged mid this year after showing signs of recovery; in fact he was still on medication,” he said.

Caught fire

Meanwhile, the family of the man who killed himself, his wife and two children at Vindizi village in Central Maragoli has described the man as a secretive person.

Wellington Muguya, the brother to the deceased, said when his brother came back home on Saturday evening, no one knew that he was there until he had killed himself.

Elsewhere, at least seven families in Osopotoit village of Busia County have been left homeless after fire gutted their houses on Sunday evening. According to the residents, the fire started at around 7pm when a grass thatched house caught fire. As the villagers attempted to remove property from it, a nearby house also caught fire.

Within four hours, seven houses were already on fire prompting the would-be rescuers to concentrate on salvaging furniture and other items from their houses.

“No one was willing to help their neighbour because the fire was spreading very fast,” said Valentine Egesa, one of those affected.

Area MP Mary Emase later visited the area and consoled the victims. She also donated money to help the victims.

­–Additional reporting by Renson Buluma