A wave of grief and shock has swept through Samutet village in Ainamoi Constituency, Kericho County, following a horrific incident where a 19-year-old man brutally murdered three close relatives before being lynched by enraged villagers. Kericho County Police Commander James Ngetich confirmed the tragic events, identifying the victims as the suspect’s 70-year-old aunt, his 28-year-old sister-in-law, and a three-year-old nephew.

Preliminary investigations reveal that the suspect had a documented criminal history, including a past stint at an approved school for theft, from which he later escaped. Commander Ngetich stated, “Preliminary investigations show that the suspect had a criminal past. He was once sent to an approved school for theft, but later escaped from the facility. Today, he turned his anger on his family members, killing three of them before irate villagers descended on him.” He further added that police had been pursuing the suspect prior to the killings and are now meticulously piecing together the sequence of events that culminated in the bloodbath. Authorities are planning to interview family members to establish the precise motive behind the deadly family dispute, while urging families to adopt peaceful methods for resolving conflicts.

According to Vincent Chirchir, who tragically lost his mother in the attack, the suspect acted swiftly and violently. Chirchir recounted, “He acted fast, leaving us with a little time to react,” detailing how the suspect first killed his mother and young nephew before moving to a different homestead to hack another female relative to death. The suspect's uncle, Joseph Kirui, painted a picture of a troubled individual, describing his nephew as a troublesome youth and a habitual bhang smoker. Kirui revealed a chilling premonition, stating, “I saw him earlier in the morning along the Kericho–Kipsitet road carrying a machete, but didn’t suspect anything. He had previously threatened that he could kill someone, but we never believed he would actually do it.”

The incident also led to the arrest of the suspect’s brother, who villagers accused of being equally addicted to drugs and a potential menace to the community. Local elder Nixon Kiplangat expressed grave concerns over the escalating issue of drug and substance abuse in the area. Kiplangat emphasized the community's fear, saying, “The suspect and his brother have been a menace to the village. We feel unsafe if the other brother remains among us. He must be taken to a rehabilitation center.” The devastating killings have plunged Samutet village into deep mourning, prompting residents to demand urgent interventions to combat drug abuse and address the pervasive insecurity linked to substance addiction.