Witnesses have said they saw the three murdered children of Kapsoya MCA aspirant James Ratemo in the company of their uncle in Eldoret town moments after they were abducted.
He is said to have bought them chips at a local hotel as their last meal before they went missing. They were later found murdered and their bodies dumped in River Nzoia.
Clifford Nyamweya (seven), Glen Ongaki (three) and Dan Nyamweya (five) were reported missing on May 13.
The uncle, Enock Onsanze, will face murder charges.
Uasin Gishu deputy police commander Samuel Mutunga yesterday said the police have made progress in unravelling the circumstances under which the children were killed.
“A witness has come up to reveal that he saw the children in Eldoret town with the suspect we have in custody,” Mutunga said. He added that they have so far received crucial leads that will lead to the arrest of others who may have been involved.
Initial investigations point to a family dispute around the killings. “After he was spotted in Eldoret, he switched off his phone and switched it on later in the night. He was arrested and charged with abduction but he will now face murder charges.”
Mutunga said so far they have not established a political motive in the killings but the family is working with the police in the investigations.
Villagers at Machine village near Moi’s Bridge along River Nzoia spotted the bodies on May 15 floating in the river and informed the local administration which called the police to retrieve them. One of the bodies was retrieved on May 16, 17 and the last one on 18.
MPs Oscar Sudi (Kapseret) and Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills) visited the home of the aspirant. They urged police to quickly unravel the murders. “We demand a speedy probe into the incident that has caused panic among parents in Kenya. People are now locking up their children,” Keter said.