Written by Frankline Bwire 2012-05-09 19:26:00 Read 664 Times

Busia police officers prepare to ferry the bodies of two family members lynched by an angry mob allegedly for stealing a cow. Photo I Frankline Bwire.

Two people were lynched by angry villagers at Sirisia village, Matayos division, Busia district after they were allegedly found with a stolen cow.

Martin Etyang alias ‘Pakata’ and his eldest son Oti were alleged to have been found transporting the animal from St Mary’s village Nambale district towards Sirisia area in Matayos division where they were descended on by the residents armed with crude weapons.

Speaking to West FM, the area residents said they had a rough time bringing down the suspects who had stolen Mr Gabriel Ouma’s cow, as they responded raining heavy blows on the mob until they sought to finish them off.

“They defied the mobs order to stop and continued running. We chased them up to Bugeng’i area where we caught up with them,” said Patrick Okumu, an area resident.

Okumu added that the suspect’s refusal to identify their accomplices infuriated the mob prompting a thorough beating that culminated in their death after being overpowered during the battle.

The residents expressed concern that despite “Pakata” having been released recently from prison he had continued with his heinous acts of cattle rustling in the area involving his son in the illegal business.

“We want the government to intervene and ensure persons suspected to be involved in the cattle rustling activities are apprehended,” Kennedy Okumu.

The former coordinator of the National Tax-Payers Association Kizito Wangalwa condemned the act saying locals should not take the law into their hands by punishing suspected criminals.

The deceased’s bodies were taken to the Busia District hospital morgue immediately after the incident.

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