Slain businessman’s wife sucked into scandal after 6 are killed at her husband’s funeral

By , K24 Digital
On Sat, 16 Nov, 2019 16:21 | 2 mins read
The shocking lynching of six men at a burial in Busia on Friday has birthed fresh allegations into the roles of the well-built men. [PHOTO | FILE]
The shocking lynching of six men at a burial in Busia on Friday has birthed fresh allegations into the roles of the well-built men. [PHOTO | FILE]
The shocking lynching of six men at a burial in Busia on Friday has birthed fresh allegations into the roles of the well-built men. [PHOTO | FILE]

The shocking lynching of six men at a burial in Butula, Busia County on Friday has birthed fresh allegations into the roles of the well-built men at the event that ended in complete disarray.

It is alleged that the six men were part of a ten-man group contracted to protect the widow of the deceased.

The younger widow of the slain businessman Johanes Okoth had allegedly hired the men -- said to be security guards at a Kisumu entertainment spot -- to buttress her as she came face to face with her co-wife and husband’s family, who she allegedly accused of being hostile toward her.

It is alleged that Mercy Awuor, Okoth’s second wife, did not introduce the men to the mourners, prompting the persons in grief to speculate that the men were the suspects who shot Okoth dead at his business premise in Bumula Market two weeks ago.

Mourners reportedly asked the men to introduce themselves, but they refused, leading to the fatal attacks.

Okoth’s sister, Roselyne Aduol, told K24 Digital that they first saw the ten men when Okoth’s body was being transported home from a Butula mortuary.

“Other mourners asked the men who they were, but they declined to respond, leading to the ugly killings. Six of the men died on the spot, whereas the other four managed to escape to unknown destinations,” said Aduol.

The men were stoned, beaten up and struck using logs, resulting in their instant deaths.

Later, Aduol and other family members established that the ten men had been invited to the burial by Okoth’s second wife, Awuor.

Okoth’s family allege that maybe Awuor had a hand in her husband’s death, claims which police are yet to verify.

It is alleged that the lynched men were armed with kitchen knives and crude weapons, allegations that police are investigating.

Police officers from Butula were forced to rescue Awuor from the mourners, who were baying for her blood after it was reported that she knew the men.

The burial ceremony had to be stopped, and Okoth’s remains returned to the morgue after the chaos disrupted the event.

The bodies of the lynched men were taken to Busia County Referral Hospital morgue.

Busia County Commissioner, Jacob Narengo, told K24 Digital that investigations into the death of the six have commenced.

“As of now, we cannot authoritatively reveal whether Awuor knew the six men. Nothing concrete has been discovered yet,” said a police officer, who spoke in confidence.

Okoth’s burial proceeded a day later – Saturday, November 16 – at his Masebula Village home in Butula.