Five family members killed by unknown assailants in Mt Elgon

Tension is high at Kapsika Village in Mt Elgon, Bungoma County following the killing of five people from the same family by unknown assailants on Friday.

Among those killed were a father and his four children aged 13, 4, 11 and a 10-month-old baby respectively.

The incident left villagers in shock as the wife and three other children managed to escape death by a whisker by playing dead in a pool of blood.

Residents are now living in fear hoping the gang will not come back as their intentions remain unknown with the deceased’s home remaining deserted ever since.

Funeral plans for the departed have stalled as family members who were supposed to organise their burials are in police custody.

Area residents have now called upon the government to assist in the burial expenses and also beef up the security.

Confirming the incident, Bungoma County Commissioner Muhammed Maalim said nine suspects had been arrested by police, among them the pastor of a nearby church.

Maalim added that police suspect the murder was caused by a land dispute between family members, adding that the family is said to own some land in Uganda as well.

He noted that police work with the Ugandan Government to ensure that the suspects are brought to book, adding that the AK 47 rifle used during the incident is suspected to be from the neighbouring country.

The security chief regretted the killing of innocent children and called on the residents to be calm as the police were working to ensure the culprits are brought to book.