Kisii County Commissioner Tom Anjere has directed Nyamache Deputy County Commissioner Esther Maina to convene a meeting of pastors, elders and family members from Sugubo village in the county to resolve the burial dispute of Kerandi Omwega.
Kerandi died last Thursday after having a land dispute with the sons of his late elder brother David Mogire and efforts to construct a house for him on the land were thwarted by the sons, leading to the killing of Mogire’s four employees.
On Saturday, Evans Mogire and Haroun Mogire and police officers went to stop the construction of a shed to prepare the burial of Kerandi and an irate crowd killed Mogire’s workers- Emmanuel Nyakundi, Daniel Nyakwara, Dickson Makori Amos Omwoyo and torched houses.
Henry Nyarieko was injured during the clashes and taken to Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital where he is recuperating.
Nyamache sub-county police commander, Kipkemboi Kipkulei said the body of Dickson Makori was retrieved from the burnt house on Sunday and ferried to Nyamache sub-county hospital morgue to await an autopsy.
Condemning the incident during a public meeting at Nyacheki market, the commissioner challenged aggrieved parties to seek legal redress to address their grievances instead of resorting to killing innocent people.
"People mess us up but we do not shoot them. Do not take the law into your hands and we cannot allow the public to live in fear," he stated.
He was accompanied by Police County Commander, Charles Kases and County Criminal investigation officer, Linah Kabaira and Deputy County Commissioner, Esther Mwaura.
He deplored increasing cases of drug abuse, illicit brew and torching of houses in the county and challenged residents to shun the vices lest they regret it.
Anjere warned drug peddlers who sold drugs to school children and implored parents and chiefs to fight drug abuse.
Mwaura said the area had notorious brewers of illicit brew and drugs, he added that security officers will launch a crackdown to arrest the culprits to end it.
"We will narrow down on the notorious brewer who also sells drugs to school children and arrest her to face the law,” Maina said.
The Commissioner said Kisiis in the diaspora do not kill each other and appealed to educated and working residents to get out of their homes, buy land elsewhere and settle to avoid creating conflicts over land disputes.
Isaac Gikoyo, Kerandi’s brother, appealed to the area chief to give the family a burial permit to go with the burial arrangements since his portion of land was clear.
Kerandi’s son, Yophes said they were evicted from the land in 2020 after Mogire’s sons obtained a court order and the family members rented houses at Nyacheki Market.
"Our houses were demolished, that is why we moved to the market. Life is hard and we are worried about where our father will be buried," Yophes said, adding the case has dragged on in court since 2000.
