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The prime suspect in  last week’s lynching of four young men is a livestock broker at the Kitengela slaughterhouse, it has emerged.

Isinya Sub-County Police Commander Charles Chepkong’a said the murdered quaret were not livestock thieves but well-known residents.

A police statement released yesterday stated that forensic investigations placed the prime suspect, Benson Melonyie ole Mungai, 40, at the scene of the murders of Fredrick Mureithi Wanjiru (30), Victor Mwangi Wanjiru (25), Mike George Ondusso (29) and Nicholas Kyengo Musa (28).

“Detectives have arrested the prime suspect behind last week’s grisly blood curdling murder of four men in Kitengela,” the statement. 

“Benson Melonyie Ole Mungai was arrested from his hideout in Kitengela town last evening, where he has been hiding since he masterminded the killings.

His arrest comes days after DCI took over investigation into the murders and moved with speed to pursue the killers,” the statement. 

“Ole Mungai was positively linked to the brutal killings after forensic investigations placed him at the scene of the crime, where it was established that he led and coordinated the killing of the four,”  DCI added. 

Chepkong’a said detectives were pursuing the rest of the killers, “as ole Mungai remains in custody to assist us with further investigations.”

Ole Mungai is a resident of Enkamuriaki village where the four were found murdered with initial reports branding them livestock thieves.

It has since emerged that the four, who include two brothers, Mwangi and Mureithi were well-known to the villagers as they frequently visited Ondusso’s relatives.

Crucial leads

Chepkong’a said several other suspects have been profiled and detectives are pursuing them.

“From our investigations we have concluded that the four men who lost their lives were not livestock thieves.

The act of killing them was criminal and we will charge those involved with murder,”  he said.

He says detectives have crucial leads that will lead to the arrest of more suspects.

Ole Mungai was yesterday arraigned at the Kajiado Law Courts in connection with the killings.

Detectives applied to hold him for 10 days in order to conclude investigations, a request which was granted by Resident Magistrate Becky Cheloti.