A Migori County government employee was among three people killed in a brutal mob attack while carrying out official duties at Mapera Shopping Centre in Suna East Sub-County, prompting Governor Ochilo Ayacko to demand a swift investigation and justice for the victims.
The county employee, Stanley Ojowi, worked as an electrician in the Migori County Department of Energy. According to county officials, he had been assigned to repair and maintain floodlights in the area when the fatal incident occurred.
Governor Ayacko described the killings as a shocking act of lawlessness that has robbed families of their loved ones and threatened public safety. He condemned the attack and urged security agencies to move quickly to identify and arrest everyone involved.
The Chairman of the Migori County Public Service Board, David Ocholla, confirmed that Ojowi had officially been deployed to undertake routine maintenance work on floodlighting infrastructure. He described the late electrician as a hardworking and committed public servant who faithfully discharged his duties. The county government also pledged to support his family during the difficult period of mourning.
Ayacko warned that the growing trend of mob justice continues to undermine peace, security and development. He said communities cannot prosper when people choose violence instead of allowing the justice system to handle suspected criminal activities.
The governor stressed that Kenya is governed by the rule of law and called on residents to reject acts of vigilantism. He urged citizens to report suspicious activities to the police rather than taking the law into their own hands.
The county boss also extended his condolences to the families of all three victims, assuring them that the county government stands with them during their grief. He prayed for the deceased to rest in peace and appealed to investigators to ensure justice is served without delay.
Migori County Police Commander Edward Imbwaga said officers responded to the incident at around 2:30 a.m. on Friday and discovered the bodies of three adult men at the scene. Investigators established that the victims had been attacked by a mob and set on fire, with one body burned beyond recognition.
Police also recovered four solar panels from the boot of a vehicle linked to the victims before towing the vehicle to Migori Police Station for further examination. The bodies were later transferred to the Migori County Referral Hospital mortuary, where postmortem examinations and formal identification procedures are expected to be conducted.
Authorities have launched investigations to establish why the three men were in the area at the time of the attack and to identify those responsible for the killings.
Police have once again appealed to members of the public to avoid mob justice, warning that innocent people often become victims of false suspicion.
Instead, residents have been urged to cooperate with law enforcement officers by reporting suspected crimes through the proper legal channels as investigations continue.