This archive report was first published on 20 August 2019.
On Sunday evening, a shocking scene unfolded in Eshirembe village, Butere, Kakamega county, as villagers burst into celebration after an elderly man hacked his middle-aged son to death.
The 38-year-old son, Habil Amunza, was described by villagers as a notorious thief who had been terrorizing the community for some time.
According to eyewitnesses, the father and son had quarreled over the latter's habit of stealing and selling the family's maize, leading to a murderous rage.
Fortunately, the father, John Makokha, 78, managed to snatch the panga and hacked his son to death.
As news of the incident spread, villagers gathered at the scene, with some expressing relief that the son's reign of terror had come to an end.
"God is Great!" exclaimed 82-year-old Jared Nandwa, a close neighbor, who claimed that his second-born son was killed by the deceased nine years ago.
Mr. Nandwa also shared a personal account of how the deceased had hit his son, Alubokha, with a stool and killed him instantly, only to be arrested and released under unclear circumstances four months later.
Another neighbor, Mr. William Wambani, described the deceased as a serial killer, robber, and nuisance to the community, welcoming his death as a reprieve.
Despite the unusual circumstances, the villagers' reaction was not without controversy, with some questioning the morality of celebrating a life taken.
As the news spread, the Kakamega general hospital mortuary received the body of the deceased, while the suspect was arrested by police and booked at Butere police station.
