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Vengeful Villagers In Kisii Torch 20 Homes

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Published on Sunday, 07 February 2010 19:58

ANGRY villagers on Wednesday night torched 20 houses in Kisii South district to avenge the death of a clan elder.

More than 1,000 villagers, a majority from Bokeire, raided Chisaro village where the badly mutilated body of Ezekiel Ombaya was found, and started torching houses. Ombaya went missing on Sunday morning and his body, which had been mutilated by dogs, was found on a sugar farm at Chisaro.

"Upon receiving information that their clan elder had been killed, Bokeire villagers went for a revenge mission;' said Kisii South DC Mohammed Maalim. They looted and set houses ablaze leaving 300 occupants homeless at Riana location. They also destroyed crops and ,stole goats and, chicken.

The arsonists roughed up chief Bernard Maiko as he attempted to block their orgy. Quick intervention by police saved the situation as those whose houses were, torched gathered to revenge; Maalim said nobody had been arrested in connection with the 9.30pm attack.

"The incident happened at night and we would not identify those behind it, but we have launched investigations," the DC said when he addressed a baraza at Ngeri tea buying centre yesterday. The DC asked villagers not to revenge, saying those behind the arson and looting will be arrested and charged.

Maalim said quick intervention from the security team prevented more damage and deaths saying the villagers whose houses were burnt wanted to revenge. "It took us several hours calming down the villagers and we don't want them to revenge," added the DC. The DC said' only 18 houses were burnt, but reporters at the scene counted over 20 grass thatched and semi permanent houses.

Councillor, Michael Masese who condemned the incident as archaic appealed to the government to assist the victims. "I'm appealing to the government, the Red Cross and other organisations to assist the victims because they spent nights in the cold and it has now started raining," he said.

Juliana Nyamokami, whose four houses were burnt, broke down. in tears as she recounted the ordeal at the DC's meeting. 'She said: "I don't know why my houses were burnt and I'm the one who fends for my family." Robert Nyakome, a villager, claimed the clan elder was killed by two brothers who have gone underground.