By James Gitaka
An agonizing family in Kilibwoni village, Nandi Central has condemned senior police officers in Nandi County for overlooking their predicament.
This is after what the family describes as a sustained series of arson attacks alleged to have been organized by a jilted son-in-law-turned-lawbreaker after his marriage to their daughter went sour.
According to Wilson Sing’oei, the father to Gladys Chemurgor, their son-in-law, an American soldier, has been tormenting the family using hired goons from Kilibwoni village to force a reunion with their daughter. The Kenyan-born American soldier broke up with the woman 2 years ago due to a case of domestic violence that was reported to law enforcement officers in the United States.
“We married off our daughter to Alex and they relocated to the USA. They were both blessed with a son. However, we were reliably informed that they regularly engaged in domestic quarrels that led to domestic violence, and that forced our daughter to seek a divorce,” said Singo’ei.
Felistus Singo’ei, mother to Gladys on her part says they have evidence of Alex speaking on phone and taking responsibility for the damage including the burning of their motor vehicle, and a granary as well as the latest incident in which their house was pelted with stones in the wee hours of the night causing serious damages.
“We have lost property worth Ksh4 million. Besides the mental torture that we continue to suffer for the last two years, we cannot sleep at night and neither can our children sleep. We are afraid they could torch the house any minute if the government does not act,” reiterated Felistus.
Compromised security agents
The family has now been forced to carry out night vigils, to protect what remains of their property.
As a result, the parents are now suffering from high blood pressure and loss of productive working hours which is now forcing them into poverty. Their children could soon be forced out of school.
“The suspect has compromised security agents within Nandi County. Even with the loss of property here, they claim to have no evidence and no one has ever been arrested in connection to these heinous crimes. We have been denied justice and we fear perhaps the police would only act if a life is lost. We implore the senior security agents to intervene and take action against police officers for inaction in this matter,” said Festus.
Human rights activists from the Centre Against Torture led by Kimutai Kirui have faulted the police for pushing for arbitration on the matter instead of commencing criminal investigations in liaison with the US Embassy to bring the culprits to book.
“We appeal to the US embassy and the DCI to investigate and determine how the goons are operating, how money is transferred to fund these crimes. Police officers who have failed to act on this issue should also be investigated for abetting a crime,” said Kimutai.
But reached for comment, Dorice Chemoss, the Nandi Central police noted that the case is under investigation by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
