Off duty KDF soldier slashed to death in robbery in Kisumu

FILE IMAGE OF A POLICE LINE

An off-duty Kenya Defence Forces soldier was slashed and killed in a robbery in Kombewa area, Kisumu County.

Police and the military said senior sergeant Elly Oweno of HPSS Embakasi was attacked at Asat Beach on Friday December 19 night.

The deceased had closed his shop in the area and was heading home with his friend when they were attacked by a gang armed with pangas and other crude weapons.

The friend told police one of the attackers shone a flashlight on their faces as the other accomplices started to slash them in the heads, necks and hands.

They then grabbed a bag belonging to the deceased and escaped on foot. It is not clear what was in the bag, police said.

The two were rushed to hospital where the soldier succumbed to the injuries, police said.

The body was moved to the mortuary pending an autopsy while the injured friend was admitted in hospital in a stable but serious condition.

Police said they had launched a man hunt for the gang behind the murder and robbery. Such attacks have been on the rise in the area amid efforts to address the trend.

Police say they have deployed more personnel to various places to address the crimes.

In Maralal, Samburu County, one Francis Kipchirchir, 42 was found dead in a house after a suspected murder.

Police said the body had a deep cut in the throat when it was found on Saturday long after the murder in the Shabbah area.

Police said they recovered a blood stained panga and slasher at a house near the scene where the body was found.

There were also blood stains in the house when the police arrived there.

The mother of the deceased and her son were arrested over the murder of the man. They are the prime suspects in the murder. The motive of the murder was not known.

Police moved the body to the mortuary pending an autopsy and other procedures.