Muslim community want death of three brothers probed

The Muslim community in Kakamega county has called on the police to investigate the lynching of three people over an alleged child kidnapping syndicate.

The incident which happened in Emukhwaye village, Butere constituency left five other people nursing serious injuries.

The Muslim community drawn from the Western region called on the relevant authorities to move with speed and investigate and arrest those who mistakenly lynched the three brothers, saying they were not criminals but people who had lost on their way.

“There was nothing like child trafficking, these people were travelling from Nairobi to Uganda but got lost on their way,” said Abdirahim Aden.

 Speaking to the media at Life Care Hospital in Bungoma town where the survivors are receiving medication, Aden said the victims were attacked by rowdy locals after they got lost on their way to Uganda.

Child kidnappers

They are said to have been set upon by a mob which mistook them for child kidnappers.

“The locals had raised concerns over high numbers of children getting lost in the area” he added.

Aden continued; “I was shocked after receiving a distress call that our people had been attacked and lynched by irate villagers on allegations of child trafficking.”

Further, Aden stated that in the attack, the vehicle they were travelling in was also torched.

He said police officers arrived at the scene and rescued the five other people who were in the company of the deceased persons.

“Even if they suspected that the group was on child trafficking mission they would have alerted the police to come and deal with them and if possible take them to court but not to take law into their hands,” he said.

Attracted mob

Area chief Julius Kiptoo confirmed the incident saying that the victims had tried abducting a grade eight student at Mulwanda primary school when the other learners raised alarm, attracting the mob which cornered and lynched the three.

He said the bodies of those who were killed were moved to a private mortuary in Butere for preservation as the police launched instigations.