Police in Maua, Meru County, arrested a 24-year-old man after he allegedly hacked and killed his elder brother, Benson Kareithi, 28, in a dispute over land.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening when the younger brother tricked Kareithi into opening the door by claiming there was a snake outside.
When Kareithi opened the door, his brother attacked him, inflicting deep cuts on his hand. Kareithi was taken to a private hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
The family had a longstanding quarrel over the land. After the attack, the suspect fled but was later cornered by a mob. Police arrived in time to save him from the angry crowd and plan to charge him with murder.
Such incidents are increasing in the country. The Economic Survey 2024 reported 3,111 homicide cases in 2020, 3,281 in 2021, 3,056 in 2022, and 3,031 in 2023.
In a separate incident in Lochar-Emeyen village, Turkana County, a man was arrested for killing a 17-year-old girl with a blunt object. The girl died instantly, and the assailant was apprehended shortly afterward.
Meanwhile, police in Kapenguria, West Pokot, are investigating the murder of 23-year-old Olivia Cheruto.
She died from injuries sustained during a fight with her boyfriend, suspected to be over a love triangle.
Cheruto succumbed to her injuries at Kapenguria County Referral Hospital. The boyfriend was arrested, and a postmortem examination is planned to determine the exact cause of death.
Police noted that Cheruto had a head injury on the left side.
