Kericho County is reeling from chaos after a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldier was killed in a violent altercation at Mtaragon trading centre in Kipkelion West constituency. The tragic incident, which occurred on Saturday night, sparked widespread retaliation and destruction of property, escalating tensions in the area.
According to Kericho County police commander James Ngetich, the soldier, who was off duty at the time, got into an argument with a group of young people at a local establishment. The disagreement quickly turned violent, and the soldier sustained serious injuries. Despite efforts by patrons to intervene and rush him to the hospital, he succumbed to his wounds before receiving medical attention.
News of the soldier’s death spread rapidly, leading to an angry response from villagers on Sunday morning. Enraged locals sought out the suspects believed to have been involved in the brawl. Failing to locate them, they resorted to setting fire to their homes and business premises. The retaliatory attacks led to the destruction of several structures, with property worth an undisclosed amount reduced to ashes.
Authorities moved swiftly to contain the unrest, deploying additional security forces to restore calm in the area. “We understand the anger, but we urge residents not to take the law into their hands. The police are actively investigating the attack and working to trace the suspects,” Ngetich stated.
Despite the heavy police presence, tensions remain high, with fears of further retaliatory attacks. The body of the deceased soldier has since been moved to the local mortuary for an autopsy and further investigations.
The incident has once again highlighted the growing concern over mob justice in Kenya. Cases of mob lynching have been on the rise, with authorities warning that some victims are falsely accused and brutally killed without proper investigations. Police have continuously emphasized that the responsibility of handling crime should be left to law enforcement agencies, rather than civilians taking matters into their own hands.
As investigations into the soldier’s death continue, authorities have vowed to apprehend those responsible. Security personnel remain on high alert to prevent any further violence in the affected village.
