This morning, it was reported that Irate residents of Kamaindi Location in Tharaka-Nithi County had killed their chief, Japhet Mayau Mukengu, by cutting him into pieces and then setting his body on fire following a prolonged dispute.
Confirming the bizarre incident which happened on Tuesday evening, Tharaka-Nithi County Commissioner Beverly Opwora said police have launched investigations.
It is alleged the chief's brother identified as Gikware Mukengu had detained goats belonging to one of the villagers, Gitonga Kibuibe, who went missing in December 2018 and his skeleton found in the nearby River Thuci three weeks ago.
This did not go down well with some locals who sought the intervention of Igambang’ombe deputy county commissioner.
The residents attacked Mr. Kibuibe at his home but he managed to escape, his brother, the chief not knowing what had happened arrived at his brother's homestead to resolve this issue when the villagers descended on him with machetes, hacked and his set his body on fire.
“The chief, his brother and their sons have not been in good terms with the villagers who accuse them of torturing them and grabbing their lands,” said the source.
Police this evening reported that three men had been arrested in connection with the murder.
Police are looking for others. New develoments A mob has killed Chuka OCS Joshua Kinyua in Kamaindi in Igamba Ng’ombe in Tharaka Nithi County
The OCS was hacked to death by a mob as he led a manhunt for murder suspects in the brutal killing of the area chief, 57yr-old Japhet Mayau Mukengu.