Family seeks justice as man dies after alleged assault by Assistant Chief

Thirty-nine-year-old Eric Mokaya reportedly sustained serious injuries in December after he was allegedly attacked by the area assistant chief over claims that he was transporting illicit brew. The administrator has, however, denied the allegations, insisting that Mokaya fled the scene and may have sustained the injuries elsewhere.

A cloud of grief now hangs over Mokaya’s homestead as his family struggles to come to terms with the loss of the father of two.

According to the widow, Diana Kerubo, the incident occurred on the night of December 11 as Mokaya was heading home with his family. She claims the assistant chief, identified as Richard Gichana, flagged them down before assaulting her husband.

“Aligonga mguu wa bwana yangu hapa akamwangusha chini. Alipoanguka, hao vijana wa nyumba kumi wakamrukia wakaanza kumpiga,” Kerubo recounted.

Kerubo further alleges that the assistant chief also assaulted her and their son during the confrontation.

“Alinitoa blouse niliyokuwa nimevaa. Mtoto wangu wa Grade 9 alipouliza kwa nini nafanyiwa hivyo, akamgongesha kichwa kwa mti hadi ukapasuka,” she added.

The deceased’s father corroborated the account, saying Mokaya screamed loudly as he was being beaten, drawing the attention of nearby residents.

“Alipiga nduru sana kutoka kwa shamba, kila mtu alisikia. Hakukuwa kitu cha polepole, alimtoa kwa kumpiga,” he said.

A post-mortem examination revealed that Mokaya died from a skull fracture, consistent with blunt force trauma to the head.

However, the assistant chief at the centre of the accusations has denied assaulting Mokaya or his family. Speaking on the matter, Richard Gichana said he only intercepted Mokaya over the alleged transportation of illicit alcohol.

“Tulikutana na hao jamaa. Akaachilia pikipiki na pombe ikatoka. Nilishika pombe. Mama akajaribu kunivuruta, nguo ikatoka nikamwachilia. Mzee akatoroka, nikachukua pombe nikapeleka Kiambere,” Gichana explained.

Kerubo says she recorded a statement at Kiambere Police Station and was issued with an Occurrence Book (OB) number. She further claims the assistant chief had previously assaulted her and that there is an ongoing case predating her husband’s death.

Mokaya’s body is currently lying at the Nyamira County morgue as the family continues to seek justice for the late 39-year-old.