A family whose member was allegedly clobbered to death over a missing wheelbarrow in Ugunja sub county, is accusing the police of dragging their feet to bring to justice those behind their Kin’s brutal killing.
According to the family members, they have recorded statements and even provided video evidence showing the suspects meting out mob justice on their kinsman to the police who, close to two weeks now, are yet to act.
The deceased’s brother, Stephen Omondi Ogutu said that his late brother, Gabriel Wakele had borrowed a wheelbarrow from a neighbor to use but failed to return it.
Ogutu said that the neighbor suspected that Wakele, aged 44 years, had sold it and sought for ways of recovering it.
“They reported to me that Wakele had failed to return the wheelbarrow” said Omondi adding that they agreed that they will look for it and if not found, they will find a solution on how to pay it back.
Omondi said that the neighbor together with his sons reneged on the agreement and instead waylaid Wakele whom they took to their Imbaya village home and beat him senseless with clubs and even hacked him with machetes.
He said that he received news of his brother’s assault and rushed home only to find him writhing in pain.
“We rushed him to Ambira sub county referral hospital where he passed on while awaiting CT scan,” lamented Omondi.
Omondi said that he reported the matter to Ugunja police station where the officer commanding station referred them to the directorate of criminal investigations but to date, nothing justice has not been done.
“We even provided the video to them that clearly shows my brother being beaten by the suspects,” he said.
His sister, Lydia Akello Ochieng narrated the frustrations they have gone through as a family and called on the government to intervene and have the culprits brought to book.
Imbaya village elder, Sylvanus Oile called for calm but condemned the trend where the public resort to taking the law into their hands even on issues that could be sorted out through dialogue.
Oile joined the family in demanding for justice for their deceased kinsman, adding that the suspects must be arrested for justice to prevail.
Siaya county police commander, Michael Muchiri confirmed the incident, saying that the matter was under investigation.
