Police in Kakamega have launched a manhunt for a suspected serial killer believed to be behind a spate of ritual-like killings targeting night guards in Kakamega town and its outskirts.
At least seven watchmen have been murdered in cold blood over the past six weeks, sending shockwaves across the region.
The killings—carried out with chilling precision—have forced traders to shut down as early as 8pm, with fear and speculation gripping residents. Security guards now operating under intense anxiety, say they feel like marked targets.
All the murders follow a similar pattern: a brutal blow to the head, followed by the gruesome removal of the victim’s tongue. Strangely, nothing is ever stolen from the victims or the premises they were guarding.
In just over a month, seven lives have been lost within a 15-kilometre radius of Kakamega town—yet there have been no arrests, no theft and no clear motive, leaving behind only blood, silence and mounting questions.
The latest killings occurred near Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology and at the Maraba Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church. Both incidents happened around 4am.
CCTV footage from the hardware store in Lurambi shows a young man in darkness launching a lightning-fast attack on a night guard, killing him within six minutes.
“The attacker does not want to see anyone here calling themselves a guard. His only target is the watchman—no one else,” said Jane Odongo, the business owner.
Kakamega Central Sub-County Police Commander Vincent Cherutich revealed that the suspect is frequently seen carrying a paper bag, which he places on the ground before launching his deadly assaults.
CCTV footage recovered from the hardware store shows the suspect calmly placing the paper bag down, sneaking up to the guard and attacking him.
Afterward, he hides behind a parked lorry when a car passes by, then slips away into the darkness.
The victim, discovered in the morning with a shattered jaw, was rushed to Kakamega County General Hospital, then transferred to Kisumu, but died during treatment. A postmortem later revealed extensive brain damage.
Just hours later, Pius Ngwete, 55, was found murdered outside the Maraba SDA Church. He lay in a pool of blood with deep head wounds. Police confirmed nothing was stolen and that the church premises remained untouched.
Earlier in the month, three more watchmen were attacked near Lurambi Police Post. One died on the spot, while two others succumbed days later while receiving treatment.
Another killing took place at Fralet Petrol Station almost simultaneously with the Lurambi hardware attack—suggesting a highly coordinated killer.
David Kombo, a local businessman, said the slain guard at Fralet had been hired by a coalition of traders to secure their premises.
“I received a call at around 3am that our guard had been attacked. I rushed to the scene and found him in a pool of blood, dead. Yet nothing was stolen from any of the businesses,” Mr Kombo recounted.
Elsewhere, at Mwiyala Secondary School, another guard was attacked and left with serious head injuries, but survived. Principal Jacqueline Wamwayi said the man was rescued by fellow guards from Papaton Security Firm and is still recovering in hospital.
At Okumu Trading Centre along the Kakamega-Webuye highway, a truck driver was hacked to death after his vehicle broke down. The driver had left for Kisumu and, upon returning, was told that his co-driver had been murdered during the night.
CCTV footage from several locations shows a lone young man, face covered with a mask and cap, entering guarded compounds while wielding an object believed to be the murder weapon.
“From the footage, all the killings appear to be the work of one individual. This is a serial killer, possibly driven by ritualistic motives. We have his image and we’re confident we will arrest him soon,” said Mr Cherutich.
The police boss added that investigations were at an advanced stage and reassured the public that security operations had been intensified to protect residents and bring the perpetrator to justice.
