This archive report was first published on 23 September 2019.
On September 21, 2019, a 14-year-old girl was brutally murdered in Nyahera, Kisumu County. The suspect, a water vendor in the village, had been set free by policemen on unclear grounds.
Angry mourners, who had gathered for the girl's burial, marched to the suspect's home, vowing to avenge her murder. When they did not find him, they burnt his house, sparking running battles with police.
Kisumu County Police Commander Benson Maweu explained that the suspect was released due to lack of evidence, as no witnesses had come forward to record statements. 'The villagers are only suspicious of him. No one wants to record a statement that we can use against the man,' Maweu said.
A post-mortem report revealed that the girl was strangled and hit with a blunt object, and was also defiled. The case was described as 'difficult' by Maweu, with even the assistant chief unwilling to give evidence.
