A Kenya Defence Force officer is under police custody after he allegedly participated in the murder of a 30-year-old man in Kasipul constituency.
The KDF officer allegedly collaborated with two other men to assault Collins Okiro to death at Sino village in the constituency.
His arrest came after video footage emerged on social media platforms showing Okiro being beaten by three men while blindfolded.
The victim is seen lying on the ground as one of the perpetrators is seen stepping on his face with one leg while another was caning him with a wooden club.
Reasons behind the beating were unclear even though those were assaulting him are heard asking him to name his accomplices in an alleged theft.
But Okiro who was crying desperately replied that he had never stolen anything.
He pleaded with his attackers to take him to a police station if they believed he had wronged them.
But his pleas fell on deaf years and seeming served to fuel the assault.
“An pok akwalo dalau. Unega nang’o (I have not stolen at your home. Why are you killing me)?” Okiro screamed in Dholuo as the assault continued.
Rachuonyo South Subcounty Police Commander Lilies Wachira said the KDF officer who was in company of his brother and another man went to Okiro’s house at 9am on April 7.
She said they reportedly managed to convince him to leave with them to an unknown destination to his wife.
Upon reaching a secluded place, they assaulted him resulting in his death, the police boss said.
On Tuesday, Wachira said Okiro’s wife identified the KDF officer and his brother before leading to the arrest.
“The deceased man’s wife recorded statement saying her husband left home with the KDF officer and his team peacefully. She doesn’t know the third person but the officer and his brother come from the same village with his husband,” Wachira said.
Police officers started hunting the suspects until they arrested the KDF officer and detained him at the Oyugis police station.
“We arrested the KDF officer and we are still looking for the remaining two suspects in connection with the murder,” she said.
Okiro’s body was moved to Rachuonyo South Subcounty hospital mortuary pending postmortem.
