States House officer, 5 others arrested over murder of woman

– A man died at Kilifi referral hospital on Wednesday, June 24, after short illness

– Locals suspected a 78-year-old woman of having a hand in his death through witchcraft after doctors failed to reveal the cause of death

– They then stormed the woman’s house and killed her along with her 58-year-old son

– Six suspects have since been arrested and among them is the GSU officer attached to Nakuru State House

Police in Ganze, Kilifi county, have arrested a General Service Unit (GSU) officer attached to State House in Nakuru and five others over killing of 78-year-old women and her son accused of witchcraft.

Derick Chilifi Mutambo was arrested along with Arnold Malingi, a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officer based at Lamu military base on Wednesday, June 24.

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The arrested GSU officer is attached to State House in Nakuru and was in Kilifi under unclear circumstances. Photo: Daily Nation
Source: UGC

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Others arrested were a village elder Raphiel Malingi Mwasambu, Patrick Muganga, Evanson Chilifi Alias Sese and Vue Taura alias Biro.

According to a police report filed at Bamba Police Station, the six incited members of the public and stormed the home of 78 year-old Dzame Gavana Kauma and killed her together with her 58 year-old son Nicholus Malingi Gavana Kauma.

“Police officers visited the scene and found the two bodies burnt and with multiple deep injuries on their bodies.

“It was alleged that the two were murdered following the death of one of their family member namely Denies Chilifi, they were suspected to have caused the death through witchcraft,” police said in a statement.

Witchcraft paraphenalia in a house of witchdoctor. The 78-year-old woman was accused of using witchcraft which led to death of Denies Chilifi. Photo: UGC
Source: Depositphotos

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Preliminary report indicated Chilifi died on the morning of Wednesday, June 24, at Kilifi referral hospital after short illness.

Medics could not establish what kind of disease Chilifi was suffering from, a move that saw villagers pointing fingers at the old woman suspecting her to have caused the death through witchcraft.

Bodies of the deceased were taken to Kilifi referral hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem as police launch investigations into the matter.

The suspects are being held at Jaribuni Police Station and will be arraigned in court once investigations are over.

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