Residents of Nyangau village in Rongo sub-county refused to participate in the mass burial of six individuals lynched during a witchcraft-related attack, according to local authorities. The incident occurred in March 2019, with villagers expressing concerns about police presence during the funeral.
Rongo deputy police commander Boaz Magabi explained that most villagers avoided the funeral due to fears of arrest as investigators continue probing the crime. He noted that police have maintained heightened patrols in the area, where tensions remain elevated over potential retaliatory attacks against suspected witchcraft practitioners.
Magabi stated, "We are not arresting anybody in the village, but we are focused on apprehending those responsible for the deaths and those who obstructed police from rescuing the victims." Authorities have detained multiple suspects, with nine individuals already charged in Migori High Court.
The accused include Lucas Nyandiga, John Onyango, Ben Omondi, John Odeka, Joseph Ojowi, Mary Scholastica Auma, Bernard Ochieng Odira, Bernard Odek Nyagwara, and Colince Odhiambo. They appeared before Principal Magistrate Moses Obiero without entering pleas and were remanded for 14 days as investigations conclude.
Police maintained security during the transfer of bodies from Rosewood mortuary in Rongo town to Nyangau village ahead of the March 8, 2019, burial, which was ultimately skipped by local residents.
