At least 15 people have been killed by family members or someone they knew in the last five days, with over 30 others injured within the same period, according to police records.

The deaths have mainly been attributed to petty family squabbles and love triangles. Among the deceased are an 85-year-old woman who was murdered by the grandson and a 64-year-old man who was also killed by his step-sons.

A Grade 8 pupil, William Ruto aged 15, who killed his elder brother, is the youngest suspect according to the police records.

In Jera, Ugenya Sub-County, a man beheaded his 85-year-old grandmother, Jenniffer Aduor Ooko, after accusing her of practicing witchcraft before he surrendered to the police.

The suspect, 45-year-old George Opondo, reportedly used an axe to kill his grandmother on Tuesday evening before locking her body inside her house. He however reported to the police the following day. Opondo later surrendered himself at Bar-Ober police post, confessing to the murder and requesting officers to retrieve the body.

Blood stains

“The body was found in a pool of blood with a deep cut on the right ear and left side of the head. An axe and spade with blood stains were recovered at the scene and kept as exhibits,” police said.

During interrogation, the suspect claimed that his grandmother had been responsible for stalling the family’s progress through witchcraft.

Another victim, Joel Koskei aged 64 was on Wednesday evening killed by his five step-sons following a dispute over land ownership in Kapkoros, Nandi East Sub-County. The victim sustained serious injuries on his head inflicted by crude weapons, and detectives have identified the suspects as Edwin Kibet, Gilbert Cheruiyot, Felix Kibet, Emmanuel Kipkurui and Erastus Kipkemoi.

“The suspects have been positively identified and detectives have launched a manhunt for them,” police said.

Stepbrother

The same day in Stofa Farm in Kiminini Sub-County, Jotham Wangila aged six was killed by his step-brother, Meshack Nyongesa, 22. The attack was witnessed by the deceased 3-year-old brother who immediately informed the mother.

“The mother rushed to the compound and found the suspect hitting the deceased with a hoe stick on the head. The victim succumbed to the injuries as he was being rushed to the hospital,” detectives said.

 The suspect escaped from the scene and by yesterday he had not been traced.

Police records also indicate that a quarrel over a memory card turned tragic when a 15-year-old boy killed his elder brother in Emia location in Kopsiro Sub-County Bungoma on Monday night.

William Ruto, a Grade Eight pupil cut his elder brother, Shadrack Kiprop Kironget 19 on the neck and head using a panga within their home.

“The suspect, on realizing that he had injured his brother, ran away to an unknown destination. The suspect is still at large and the murder weapon is yet to be recovered,” police said yesterday. The body was moved to Kimilili Delight Mortuary awaiting post mortem, police said.

In Wathini Sub-Location of Mukaa Sub-County in Makueni, a 60-year-old man was killed by the former lover of his daughter on Monday night.

Naomi Mwati, the deceased’s daughter was walking home accompanied by her boyfriend when they were confronted by her former lover, Michael Mulwa. He cut her on the head and hands, inflicting deep cuts. The father, John Mwati Musyimi heard the screams and rushed to her daughter’s rescue. He was instead cut on the head and hand. The assailant escaped from the scene and is yet to be arrested adding that the attack was as a result of love triangle.