How Land Row Led Family to Murder Their Neighbour in Gilgil

A brutal murder has shaken the community of Elementaita, Gilgil, where 50-year-old Joseph Kasarari fell victim to a vicious attack last Thursday.

The incident, which occurred during what was meant to be a peaceful mediation, appears to stem from an ongoing land dispute scheduled for court resolution in December. The events unfolded when Kasarari, who was getting his hair cut at home, was approached by his neighbour with an ostensible offer to resolve their land dispute through traditional mediation with local elders. However, according to Kasarari's nephew Agustin Mbece, this overture proved to be a deadly ruse. Upon following his neighbour, Kasarari encountered the man's four sons, who launched a brutal assault with machetes while their father looked on.

Despite the desperate attempts of Mbece and Kasarari's sons to intervene, their calls for help came too late. The attackers fled as villagers responded to the commotion, leaving Kasarari fatally wounded at the scene. Government pathologist Dr. Titus Ngulungu's post-mortem examination has revealed the horrific nature of the attack, documenting multiple severe injuries including partial decapitation and dismemberment. The fatal blow, according to Dr. Ngulungu, was the neck injury that severed major blood vessels and the spinal cord.

Gilgil Sub-County Police Commander Winstone Mwakio has reported some progress in the investigation, with two suspects—the neighbour and one of his sons—now in custody. The remaining three sons are currently fugitives, with law enforcement actively pursuing their apprehension. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has secured a fourteen-day detention period for the arrested suspects, during which they will undergo mental assessment and further investigation before formal charges are filed.

The aftermath of this tragedy has left Kasarari's family living in fear. Ezekiel Musangi, one of Kasarari's sons, reports ongoing threats from the fugitive suspects, who allegedly claim they have "unfinished business" with the family. The victim's brother Luka Kwalanda has expressed particular concern about these threats and criticizes local authorities for their failure to prevent the incident, noting that his brother had legitimate ownership of the disputed 3.5-hectare property.