The tragedy reportedly unfolded after a disagreement over ownership of a one-acre parcel of land escalated into violence at a family homestead.
According to eyewitness accounts, the dispute involved two brothers from the Rogoi family and had been simmering for some time before turning deadly.
Residents said that tensions flared early in the morning when one of the brothers, identified by locals as Victor Chirchir, confronted his sibling over the contested land.
The argument quickly escalated, culminating in a violent attack in which Victor allegedly used a sharp object to fatally injure his brother at the scene.
Moments after the first killing, a village elder identified as Aldon Kosgei rushed to the homestead after hearing distress calls from neighbours.
Witnesses said the elder was attempting to mediate and calm the situation when he was also attacked. He sustained serious injuries to the head and hands and later succumbed to his wounds.
Villagers expressed outrage over the killing of the elder, describing him as a respected community member who often helped resolve disputes peacefully.
“He went there to stop the fighting and help the family talk through the issue. He had no involvement in the land dispute,” one resident said.
Anger quickly spread through the village after news of the double killing emerged. Enraged residents confronted the suspect and subjected him to mob justice.
He sustained severe injuries during the attack and died before he could be taken into police custody.
Police later arrived at the scene and secured the area as calm gradually returned. The bodies of all three deceased individuals were transported to Longisa Hospital mortuary in neighbouring Bomet County, where post-mortem examinations are expected to be conducted.
Local elders said the Rogoi family had a history of unresolved land disputes, noting that previous disagreements within the same family had also turned violent in the past.
Community leaders expressed concern over the increasing risks faced by village elders, who often step in to resolve conflicts without adequate security.
“Village elders are putting their lives on the line to help families resolve disputes. The government needs to strengthen local security and dispute-resolution mechanisms,” one elder said.
Confirming the incident, the area assistant chief said preliminary reports indicated that the suspect had killed two people before being lynched by members of the public.
The administrator condemned both the killings and the subsequent mob justice, urging residents to follow lawful channels when handling disputes.
“There are proper structures such as village elders, nyumba kumi leaders and the courts. Taking the law into your own hands only leads to more loss of life,” the assistant chief said.
Authorities have launched investigations into the incident as calls grow for peaceful conflict resolution and stronger land dispute mediation at the community level.
0 Comments