KIRINYAGA, Kenya — Tension gripped Ciagini Village in Mwea West Sub-County after angry residents uprooted a banana plantation and marched to a local police station carrying the body of a man allegedly killed by assailants linked to a church bishop.
The residents, carrying the coffin of Martin Kara, stormed Ciagini Police Station demanding the immediate arrest of a bishop whom they accused of orchestrating the fatal assault.
The protests unfolded despite repeated assurances from police officers and Ciagini Location Chief Justus Wanjohi that the suspect had already been taken into custody.
According to residents, Kara was allegedly assaulted by three men reportedly linked to the bishop after accusations emerged that he had stolen rice and a chicken.
Residents further alleged that two of the attackers were relatives of the deceased.
Witnesses said Kara sustained severe injuries during the assault and died before he could be rushed to hospital.
The incident sparked outrage across the village, with residents accusing authorities of delaying action against the bishop.
In anger, residents reportedly uprooted a banana plantation associated with the suspect before carrying the deceased’s body in protest to the police station.
The situation later escalated further after enraged villagers allegedly set the bishop’s homestead on fire and vandalised his church.
Millicent Ngugi confirmed that the bishop was arrested on Wednesday evening and is currently being held at Kiamaciri Police Station as investigations continue.
Ngugi said detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations are handling the case.
She further confirmed that the suspect was arraigned before the Baricho Law Courts on Thursday morning, where investigators obtained orders to detain him for 10 days pending completion of investigations.
In an effort to calm the volatile situation, police escorted five residents to Kiamaciri Police Station to verify that the suspect was indeed in custody.
Authorities say the move helped ease tensions within the community, although anxiety remained high following the violence and destruction witnessed in the village.
Kara’s body was later transferred to Kibugi Funeral Home, awaiting burial.
Police have urged residents to remain calm and allow investigations to proceed through the justice system as detectives continue gathering statements and forensic evidence linked to the killing.
