Two men have been murdered in Homa Bay County after reportedly being mistaken for cattle thieves.
The deceased have been identified as Bob Ochieng, a butcher, and Kevin Odero, a Probox driver. They were killed near Kobodo Market in Kanyamwa Kologi Ward, Ndhiwa Sub-county.
The incident began when Ochieng, who operates a butchery at Sikwadhi Trading Centre in North Kabuoch Ward within the same sub-county, travelled to buy a cow from a farmer in Kanyamwa Kologi Ward.
Ochieng had reportedly received a phone call on Wednesday evening from a person claiming to be selling a cow whose leg had been broken while grazing.
He proceeded to purchase the cow at around 5pm. Since the animal could not walk, he hired Odero to transport it using his Probox vehicle.
After loading the cow into the car, they began their journey back to North Kabuoch. However, heavy rainfall made the already poor road impassable. The vehicle also suffered a puncture shortly after the rain stopped.
As the two struggled with the vehicle, a few local residents spotted them at night and suspected they had stolen the cow.
The residents mobilised a mob that attacked the two men.
Attempts by Ochieng and Odero to explain that they had legally purchased the animal fell on deaf ears. The mob descended on them, killing both on the spot, and went on to torch the vehicle.
Ndhiwa Sub-county Police Commander John Losia confirmed that initial investigations indicated the two men were killed by mistake.
“The information we have gathered so far shows that the cow had indeed been sold to them by its owner. Unfortunately, the mob did not give them a chance to explain,” said Losia.
He added that officers dispatched to the scene found the two men dead and their vehicle burnt.
The police boss urged members of the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
“It is wrong for the public to attack individuals based on unverified allegations. They should have questioned the two men or contacted the cow’s owner to confirm the situation,” he said.
Losia advised residents to report suspicions to the police or relevant authorities instead of resorting to violence.
The bodies were taken to the Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary.
