A Homa Bay leader has revealed the circumstances that led to the fatal stabbing of a church elder, who was killed by his colleague in a harrowing Saturday incident at the altar.
Francis Opiyo, 35, lost his life after suffering fatal injuries in his stomach from an altercation with another elder who surrendered himself to the assistant chief moments later.
Wasamba Sub-Location Assistant Chief Lucas Onyango has since opened up about the incident revealing that the key suspect in the brutal killing was somewhat shocked at his own actions, moments after killing Opiyo.
"I was at home yesterday when my son told me someone was asking for me," he narrated. "The suspect came to me and was very nervous. He told me he engaged in a fight and had hurt somebody."
"I asked him who he hurt and he said that he scratched Opiyo on the stomach. After his confession, I took him to the police station."
Onyango further revealed that the suspect was not aware that Opiyo had died until later at the police station.
The sub-chief also revealed that the altercation between the two church elders escalated after a brief tussle over the delivery of a sermon.
He added, "People had already said their testimonies at the church, the deceased wanted to say a few words but he was stabbed before he could deliver a sermon and congregants fled immediately."
Irate residents have since torched the suspect's house immediately after learning Francis Opiyo did not survive his injuries.
Confirming the incident, Suba South Sub-County Police Commander Caxton Ndunda revealed that the two elders may have had bad blood before the heinous crime.
"He ought to have sought the intervention of clan elders or the church leadership to solve the issue instead of the violence,” Ndunda said.
Incidents of stabbings have been on the rise in recent weeks, with a common trend showing a majority of the victims are familiar with their assailants.
In November 2024, a church official was on the stop after a woman filed an attempted murder case against him following an altercation that led to the lady suffering several stab wounds and severed hands.
