A police officer stabbed to death a bar attendant at Kipsaraman trading centre, Baringo North, over Sh450 unsettled bill on Tuesday morning.
The Administration Police officer attached to Bartabwa AP camp reportedly stabbed Reuben Cherutich, 43, of Three-Ways bar after a quarrel at 1am.
“The suspect has been arrested and he will be arraigned as soon as possible to answer murder charges,” county police commander Robinson Ndiwa said.
Ndiwa said there were enough witnesses and evidence.
"... so we don’t need more time as police to investigate the matter. The suspect will have to carry his own cross,” he said on Tuesday.
The suspect is said to have been in accompany of other revellers drinking past the 10pm curfew.
“They picked a brief quarrel and fought before the officer pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the neck,” Ndiwa said.
Cherutich succumbed to his injuries as he was being taken to hospital.
Witnesses recorded their statements at Kabartonjo police station on Tuesday.
Saimo-Kipsaraman MCA John Aengwo condemned the killing.
“It is so unfortunate that our people dying but the government seems reluctant to close bars and local brew dens” Aengwo said.
Following the murder, Ndiwa ordered closure of all bars by 8pm in Kipsaraman centre in adherence to the set Covid-19 protocols.
“It is shocking to note a day hardly passes before a murder or a suicide case is reported in Baringo North. It could be due to the increased stress level among families” he said.
He, however, called on residents to find alternative ways of solving disputes.
This happens barely over a month after a 55-year-old local brew den operator Evelyn Kabon stabbed to death 38-year-old man Solomon Cherogony on February 24.
At least three people have been killed in the area since July last year.
Rebeko Primary School deputy head teacher Reuben Chebon Kiprong, 59 was found dead in a rented house in January.
In July last year, the body of a 75-year-old woman was found after being spotted in a local bar the previous evening.
