A quiet village in Kericho County was thrown into mourning on Wednesday after the body of a 70-year-old woman was pulled from River Chepchirik.
The discovery was made in Kesagetiet village, Belgut Constituency, sparking anger and fear among residents. Many said it was not the first time such a tragedy had happened. Two years ago, another elderly woman was found dead in the same river.
According to neighbours, the woman had last been seen drinking alcohol near the river hours before her body was discovered.
The incident has reignited tensions between villagers and the local administration. Some residents openly accused the area chief of neglect and of turning a blind eye to the rampant sale of illegal alcohol. “We demanded that the chief come here before the body was taken out,” one resident said, insisting that the community’s concerns have long been ignored.
Their anger was so strong that they briefly blocked police and locals from retrieving the body, insisting that the chief must appear in person.
Belgut Sub-County Police Commander, David Chepngetich, confirmed the death and said detectives had opened an inquiry. “Investigations are ongoing,” he told reporters, while urging residents to remain calm and allow police to do their work.
The body was later taken to Siloam Mortuary for preservation and a post-mortem examination.
For now, villagers are left with more questions than answers. Why do such incidents keep happening in the same place? And who should be held accountable?
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