This archive report was first published on 18 October 2019.
On October 18, 2019, a tragic incident occurred in Kiptagich village, Kuresoi South Sub-County, where a middle-aged man, Benjamin Lang'at, took his own life.
According to area chief Wycliffe Too, Lang'at was found hanging from a tree with a rope round his neck moments after leaving Kiptagich police station.
Relatives and locals, led by Lang'at's brother Amos Langat, and two cousins, Josphat Kilel and Andrew Kilel, narrated how Lang'at's estranged wife, together with the police officer, allegedly used the area OCS to frustrate him.
They claimed that Lang'at's wife reported that the two motorbikes in his possession belonged to her, prompting him to be summoned at midnight to record a statement at Kiptagich police station.
Area Chief Wycliffe Too stated, 'The wife used her new lover to demand for the motorbikes that belonged to him and Officer Commanding Station in Kiptagich summoned the deceased at midnight despite me advising him against it. I had advised the OCS to do so in the morning.'
The trio further alleged that it was during the recording of the statement that the said OCS provoked Lang'at.
The police constable accused of eloping with Lang'at's wife has gone into hiding.
Following the incident, residents of Kiptagich have threatened to hold demonstrations demanding the arrest of the officer and transfer of the OCS and other officers who they accuse of being unethical.
The body has since been moved to Olenguruone hospital mortuary.
