A man in Migori who beat up his girlfriend over suspicions of cheating on him paid dearly for his actions after he was in turn beaten to death by a rival suitor in a suspected love triangle row.
Three houses belonging to the alleged killer were torched by angry villagers who were baying for his blood in the shocking Monday incident that happened at Kakrao village in Suna East constituency.
Police were forced to lob teargas canisters and fire several shots in the air to scare off angry villagers who demanded to lynch the suspected murderer.
The deceased Felix Ayodo, is said to have assaulted his girlfriend after accusing her of having carried on an affair with their neighbour while he was in jail for peddling drugs.
Ayodo was among prisoners who were recently released from custody at Migori GK Prison by the government as a measure to decongest prisons and curb the spread of Coronavirus pandemic.
Samuel Onyango, a resident said Ayodo was fighting his said girlfriend who raised an alarm prompting a Nyumba Kumi elder only identified as Alfred to come in to separate them. The elder took the woman to a local dispensary after she suffered some injuries.
He said when the Nyumba Kumi elder came back; he together with the woman’s alternate lover cum-neighbour teamed up and beat to death Ayodo in retaliation.
Irate villagers who called in area Suna Lower assistant chief Wilfred Onyango expecting the elder to be arrested were irked when police only took Ayodo’s body but arrested no suspect.
Angry villagers engaged police officers in running battles after they pelted them with stones while baying for the blood of the woman, the boyfriend and the Nyumba Kumi elder.
Suna North location Chief Goretty Duya said police will investigate the incident and urged members of the public to remain calm.
Duya said residents complaining of rising insecurity and harassment should have left police to do their work, adding that they will seek the arrest of the woman, the boyfriend and the elder. Those who incited villagers will also be arrested.
The administrator termed the incident as unfortunate and averred that they will intensify patrols in the area until calm is restored.
By Geoffrey Satia
