Chaos erupted in Kakamega County when a funeral was turned into a crime scene after the mourners sought to take matters into their own hands and deliver justice over the victim's death.
According to a police report obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, a total of 1,000 mourners were en route to the funeral in the Muranda area while carrying the body of Kizito Namanga.
It is reported that the victim died at the hands of assailants on April 17, 2024.
Weeks later, the youths were disgruntled as the police were yet to apprehend the perpetrators and no update was provided on the same.
On the day of the funeral, the mourners rallied themselves up and headed towards the home of a suspect who is believed to be the one who hired the assailants.
Over 20 police officers patrolling the area rushed to the scene to try and calm the youth in a last-ditch effort that bore no fruits.
Moments later, the youth overpowered the police officers and raided the suspect's home. In the process, they burnt the home as a form of retaliation after the suspect was not found in the house.
To calm the situation, the officers attempted to fire 72 rounds to disperse the crowd to no avail.
Not fazed by the gunshots, the youth attacked the officers who ran away from the scene to save their lives.
According to the report, 17 police officers sustained dire injuries following the melee. This included bruises on the head, limbs, muscle and tissue fibres.
Reinforcements from the Prisons and surrounding sub-county officers were deployed as backup to restore peace.
"The officers patrolled the area and the body moved to the home of the deceased," the report read in part.
