Fight over grave-digging fees leaves 3 dead, houses torched in Likuyani
Torched houses at Simon Ashibira's home at Kona Mbaya area in Likuyani Sub County, Kakamega County in this picture taken on March 9, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Nzoia ward Member of County Assembly Area Collins Chapurukha described the situation as a sad state of affairs and called for thorough investigations into the incidents.
- “There is still tension in the area and we have seen police keep vigil, but we are asking the government to move with speed to ensure justice for the two affected families,” Mr Chapurukha told Nation.Africa in a Tuesday interview.
An altercation between a Nyumba Kumi official and a community member last Friday over grave-digging dues has left a trail of deaths and destruction in the Kona Mbaya area, Likuyani, on the border of Kakamega and Trans Nzoia counties.
The casualties include two sisters-in-law, one of whom was seven months pregnant, and police are on the spot over their killing.
Trouble started on Friday evening when Nyumba Kumi chairman Simon Ashibira clashed with a local youth, Sydney Lihanda, alias Sydney Kalanja, at a burial ceremony in the Kona Mbaya area.
Lihanda was among the youths who dug the grave at the funeral and demanded payment for the work.
The confrontation between the two escalated on Saturday when Lihanda went to the Nyumba Kumi chairman’s home and confronted him. This turned chaotic when the deceased was allegedly attacked by family members.
According to a police report seen by Nation.Africa, Mr Ashibira, 74, the chairperson of community policing in Nzoia Ward, allegedly seriously assaulted Lihanda, 40, leaving him for the dead, an incident that sparked public anger, prompting a retaliatory attack at his home the following day on Sunday.
The assault incident was reported at Matunda Police Station on March 9 as the injured Lihanda was rushed to Wamalwa Kijana Referral Hospital (WKRH) in Trans Nzoia where he succumbed to injuries Sunday morning.
Events leading to his death turned into chaotic scenes at the suspect’s home when irate members of the public became rowdy and stormed it with the intent to kill family members and torch the homestead.
Police reports indicate that anti-riot police officers rushed to the scene, but on arrival, were overwhelmed by rowdy members of the public who became more violent, pelting the officers with stones and preventing the officers from rescuing the targeted family.
Police officers from Matunda Police Station in Likuyani Sub County, Kakamega County, who arrived at the scene, said they were prompted to use blank ammunition to scare off the irate mob, but residents have accused the officers of using live bullets on innocent protesters.
On Sunday, security officers, despite huge public anger and protests at the Nyumba Kumi official’s home, managed to evacuate the targeted family members, including the suspect (Mr Simon Ashibira), after they received a backup deployment of officers from Moi's Bridge Police Station.
The Sunday event turned more chaotic in the afternoon when irate members of the public charged toward the officers after they evacuated the targeted persons.
The officers tactically withdrew and escorted the targeted family members away from the scene after their four houses were torched amid heavy looting of households.
Dorcas Wanjala, 19, and Sarah Boaz, 22, were shot dead by police in the exchange with the angry residents, six police officers were left nursing injuries, and three police vehicles were damaged.
A police report indicates that officers at the scene were forced to use live rounds and tear gas canisters where two female adults were fatally injured and died on the spot.
The bodies of the deceased women were moved to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret Mortuary in Uasin Gishu County, awaiting identification and a post-mortem.
Mr Ernest Wanyama, who lost his 19-year-old daughter, Dorcas, and expectant 22-year-old daughter-in-law, Sarah, in the melee, is now demanding justice for his kin and accuses police of extra-judicial killings.
He said the death of Lihanda was an isolated case but led to a retaliatory protest by members of the public that led to the killing of his two young daughters, identified as Dorcas Naliaka and Sarah Boaz.
The family is seeking an audience with the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA) to pursue justice for their loved ones.
According to the father, members of his family were barred from viewing the bodies of their kin at the morgue.
Residents have asked the government to take immediate action against police officers who killed two ladies and the main suspect in the murder of the man, which escalated tension in the area.
The residents said all those involved in the deaths must be brought to book and charged to ensure affected families get justice.
Nzoia ward Member of County Assembly Area Collins Chapurukha described the situation as a sad state of affairs and called for thorough investigations into the incidents.
“There is still tension in the area and we have seen police keep vigil, but we are asking the government to move with speed to ensure justice for the two affected families,” Mr Chapurukha told Nation.Africa in a Tuesday interview.