By Lauryne Akoth
Tensions flared in Wanguthiru Village, Tigithi Ward, as the tranquility of the community was shattered once again by the brutal killing of a church elder.
Daniel Ndirangu, a 58-year-old pillar of the community, fell victim to a savage attack with a panga wielded by a 61-year-old assailant.
The shocking incident marked the third such tragedy to strike the village in just a month.
Fearing the wrath of enraged residents seeking retribution, the assailant eventually surrendered to the police.
The victim was tending to his cattle in the morning when the assailant approached him and initiated a dispute, ultimately leading to the fatal outcome.
Residents found themselves on the brink of fury with the local police as they prevented the police officers from collecting the body of the deceased.
They accused the police of negligence for failure to respond on time when alerted about a crime incident.
Residents noted Ndirangu was killed at around 9 am but police had not collected the body by 1 pm despite having been notified immediately.
When a police land cruiser eventually arrived at the crime scene at around 1 pm, angry Villagers yelled at them demanding that Laikipia Central Police Commander visit the scene and explain the reason behind the slow response.
The police vehicle drove away and later returned, accompanied by Tigithi Location Chief Wilson Thuo, who successfully pacified the irate residents. Thuo reported that immediately following the incident, the perpetrator fled the scene and sought sanctuary at Sweetwaters Police Station, where he was detained before being transferred to Nanyuki Police Station.
Purity Gakii, a witness, recounted that the two individuals were engaged in an argument before the assailant attacked the deceased. “I was attending to my goats; I couldn’t hear what they were arguing about, so he got his panga and started hacking him.
That’s when I quickly called my neighbors. After seeing me, he started chasing me,” tearfully shared Gakii with the media.
Stephen Wanjohi, a neighbor, said that he suspected that a land dispute could have resulted in the death of Ndirangu.
“The deceased has been grazing his cattle here and the killer who is also a member of the family had wanted to till the land for farming.
We believe that is where the conflict came from and led to the heinous act,” said Wanjohi.
Beth Wadayana called on the government to increase the number of police officers stationed at the Matanya police post, aiming to enhance security in the area.
Simultaneously, she appealed for the allocation of a police vehicle to meet the community’s requirements.
The body was moved to Nanyuki hospital mortuary awaiting autopsy.