So painful – Family of man who was lynched in Kitengela turns to Uhuru, Matiangi for justice during emotional burial

By , K24 Digital
On Thu, 19 Aug, 2021 21:14 | 2 mins read
Prime suspect in the killing of Kitengela men arrested. PHOTO: Courtesy.

The family of Mike George who was among the four youngmen lynched by angry residents in Kitengela on suspicion of being cattle rustlers have called for the speedy investigationsby authorities into the murder of their kin.

In an emotional burial ceremony held in Miruka village, Nyamira County on Thursday, August 19, Mica's family petitioned President Uhuru Kenyatta and Interior CS Fred Matiangi to intervene and help them get justice for their kin's murder.

"They were about 50 of them and this people ought to be arrested. It so painful to be informed that your young brother whom you left home a few minutes a go is dead," Edna Guto, the sister to the deceased said.

"What hurts us is that these are youngmen who were at the age of your children Mr Matiang'i, children who can reffer to you as their father and they are from your home, what action have you taken?" Lilian Kerubo the aunt to the deceased said.

The statements from Micah's family comes after Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal investigations (DCI) arrested the prime suspect in the murder of the four men in Kitengela.

A 40-year-old suspect Benson Melonyie Ole Mungai was flashed out of a hideout in Kitengela on Monday, August 16.

According to a report by the DCI, forensic investigations placed the suspect into the scene of crime where it was discovered that he was behind the killings.

“His arrest comes a few days after DCI took over investigations into the murders and moved with speed to pursue the killers. Ole Mungai was positively linked into the brutal killings after forensic investigations placed him at the scene of the crime, where it was established that he led and coordinated the killing of the four,” Read a report by the DCI

DCI says they are in pursuit of other killers involved as Ole Mungai remains in custody to assist with further investigations.

Among the four killed in Kitengela included two brothers who had gone to visit their cousin for a housewarming party and at the same time celebrate their birthday.

Fred Mureithi, 30, his younger brother Victor Mwangi who was celebrating his 25th birthday and their two cousins Nicholas Musa, 28 and Micah, 29, who was burried today were allegedly mistaken for cattle rustlers and killed.

The four had reportedly parked their motorbikes at a riverbank when they were allegedly mistaken for cattle rustlers. They had gone to buy chicken at the nearby shop when their bikes had been parked.

It said that residents alerted each other, pounced on the four men without listening to their pleas and killed them. They also burnt their motorbikes.

The incident happened on August 13, near a riverbank at Enkamulyat area, some 14km from Kitengela town.

It is not clear yet whether the motive behind their deaths was mistaken identity as the DCI reports seem to indicate that their murder was premeditated and coordinated by the suspect.