Student lynched to death after allegedly stealing clothes and handbag
A family of a 24-years old Technical training institute student, killed through mob justice in Kaisagat village in Kwanza sub county has appealed for speedy investigations into the incident.
Speaking to the press in Kitale on Saturday, the deceased’s father Charles Nyainda Atima asked police to hold responsible the owner of the home who raised an alarm accusing his slain son Ezra Aringa Nalundo of stealing.
The mob then descended on Nalundo, a former student at Cheptrait Technical Training Institute killing him instantly.
According to a police report, the deceased who was allegedly found stealing clothes and handbag was lynched by a mob that was responding to a distress call from Kennedy Onsaringo, the owner of the home where the incident took place.
“Our fresh investigations reveal that the deceased who was married had told his wife on the eventful day that he was going to charge his phone at a nearby market. However he proceeded to someone’s home in Kaisagat village kwanza subcounty where he was found stealing before being lynched ,” Endebess OCPD Shadrack Rutto said on phone on Monday.
According to the OCPD , Onsaringo who is sickly and had gone to visit his mother about 100 metres from his home last week when the incident occurred.
The reports further indicate that when Onsaringo came back, he found the door to his house partially opened and upon entering, he saw a man holding his wife’s clothes and handbag, prompting him to raise an alarm.
According to Rutto , the family came to know about the death of their son after reporting to police station about his disappearance.
“We processed the deceased as unknown African male adult killed by mob over theft,” he said.
The OCPD said that the investigation had commenced as mobile conversations will also help police to uncover motive behind killing.
Police reports also indicate that the parents to the deceased had reported that their son was in a relationship with the daughter of Onsaringo.
“We want to establish whether a girl said to be lover to the deceased was at home at the time of incident or not. If she was, the case may take a different dimension. But if she was away then the theft allegation will stand,” he said.
He added that about 15 people including the area chief have recorded statements in connection with the incident. The family said they will not bury the deceased until they get the justice after a postmortem showed that he was hit on the skull.
The body is at Kitale Teaching and referral hospital mortuary.