
Wasamba sub-location Assistant chief Lucas Onyango
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A church elder was fatally stabbed during a church service on Saturday in Homa Bay county.
The victim, 35-year-old Francis Opiyo, sustained critical abdominal injuries that led to his death, a situation that has provoked widespread grief and outrage among local residents. The confrontation was reportedly ignited by a dispute over sermon delivery, escalating rapidly into violence.
According to Lucas Onyango, the assistant chief of Wasamba Sub-Location, the suspect, who has not been named, approached him after the incident, appearing visibly disturbed. The traumatic scene unfolded in the presence of congregants, who, shaken and frightened, fled as the tragic events unfolded.
"He came to me, clearly nervous, and confessed to having hurt someone," Onyango recounts. It was only later at the police station that the suspect learned of Opiyo's death.
Community tensions between the two elders had reportedly been simmering prior to the altercation, highlighting the need for dialogue in conflict resolution. In the wake of the incident, local residents expressed their anger by setting fire to the suspect's house. Suba South Sub-County Police Commander Caxton Ndunda has commented on the situation, stating that the violent outcome could have been avoided through mediation.
"Violence should never be the answer. He should have sought mediation from clan elders or church leadership," Ndunda affirms.
This grim episode takes place amid a troubling rise in stabbing incidents, particularly those involving acquaintances. In a related incident from November 2024, another church official faced charges of attempted murder after a confrontation that left a woman severely injured.