The burial of 12-year-old Emmanuel Kimutai at Chebunyo village on Tuesday, September 24, 2025, has left Bomet County and the nation at large in shock, sorrow, and anger.

Emmanuel was brutally killed last week in Chebugon village, allegedly at the hands of his own father, over what many would describe as a painfully trivial matter: taking a sip of milk and biting into a slice of bread. The young boy’s life was cut short after a beating so severe that he succumbed to his injuries.

Former Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto has spoken strongly against the killing, calling it a stain on society’s conscience and a reminder that child abuse is never discipline but a crime.

“It has been excruciating even to imagine the suffering the late Emmanuel Kimutai endured in the hands of his ‘father’; he was beaten so severely that he succumbed to injuries sustained simply because he bit a slice of bread and took a sip of milk,” Rutto said.

“The cruelty behind this act is beyond comprehension, and the weight of it is heavy on all our hearts.”

Rutto emphasised that the law is clear when it comes to the protection of children, saying, “Child abuse is a grave crime, and no excuse nor circumstance can justify such brutality. Justice must take its course so that this innocent boy’s life is honoured and his suffering is not in vain.”

Discipline vs abuse

The former governor urged society to reflect deeply on the difference between discipline and abuse, stressing that parents and guardians must explore constructive ways to guide their children without inflicting harm.

“This tragedy calls on us as parents and as a society to rethink how we discipline our children. There are better and more constructive ways to guide young ones without harming and scarring them for life,” he said.

He further called for collective responsibility in protecting children from abuse and gender-based violence, noting that every instance of cruelty leaves lasting scars not just on the victims but also on society.

“We must all rise to protect our children from abuse and the trauma they’re subjected to whenever they experience gender-based violence,” Rutto said.

The person of interest in Emmanuel’s death is currently in police custody as investigations continue. For the people of Chebunyo and Chebugon villages, Emmanuel’s story is a haunting reminder of the dangers of unchecked violence at home.

As Rutto concluded: “As Emmanuel rests in severe pain, let this tragedy awaken us all to guard our children and build a society where discipline is never confused with abuse.”