Man hacks father to death in dawn ambush in Homa Bay

A 55-year-old farmer was allegedly hacked to death by his son in a grisly attack on Saturday morning in Ndhiwa Subcounty.

The attack also left another villager who was in the company of the deceased in critical condition.

Local authorities suspect that the attack was the culmination of a long-standing family dispute.

The deceased has been identified as Joseph Otieno Omogo of Ng’ope Village, Konyango Sublocation, North Kabuoch Ward.

According to witnesses, Omogo and his colleague were walking to their farm at around 5 am when they were accosted by the attacker armed with a machete.

Konyango Sublocation Assistant Chief Gabriel Nyatame confirmed the incident, saying he was alerted by a village elder before proceeding to the scene.

“I arrived and found Omogo lying in a pool of blood with deep cuts. His colleague had sustained serious injuries and was in a lot of pain,” Nyatame said.

The injured man was rushed to Homa Bay County Referral Hospital, where he is currently admitted in critical condition.

Nyatame said preliminary investigations point to a protracted disagreement between the deceased and his son over unresolved family matters.

“The matter had been handled both at the village level and in court before, but the disagreements persisted. The son had allegedly been issuing threats against his father’s life,” the administrator noted.

Local residents described Omogo as a hardworking farmer who was well known in the area. Many expressed shock that a domestic dispute could escalate to such violence.

The suspect fled the scene immediately after the attack and remains at large.

Police officers from Ndhiwa Police Station visited the scene and collected evidence. A manhunt has since been launched.

Area residents have been urged to volunteer any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect.

“We are appealing to members of the public to come forward with any information. Nobody should take the law into their own hands,” Nyatame added.

The body of the deceased was moved to Homa Bay County Referral Hospital mortuary pending postmortem.

Community leaders in North Kabuoch have called for increased conflict resolution and counseling at the grassroots to prevent family disputes from turning deadly.