Two arrested over torching of Homa Bay pastor’s car

The vehicle razed down by the irate members of the public. [Photo by Davis Langat]

Police in Rachuonyo East sub-county have arrested two suspects following the recent torching of a pastor’s car by  residents over the suspicion that it belonged to cattle rustlers.

The pastor who had gone to meet a lady friend in Jwela village in Ramula location had parked his car on the road leading to river Miriu.

Residents who spotted the car alerted fellow villagers and erected three roadblocks using boulders, while others kept watch from 8.30 pm to 9.00 pm and later regrouped from 10 pm to 11.00 pm, waiting for the owner.

An eyewitness who did not want to be identified said that as the pastor returned to the car, he was attacked, while his lady companion fled into the darkness.

“The pastor also attempted to flee but was pushed back into the car before he finally managed to escape, but with some injuries,” the witness said.

The residents then went ahead and burned down the car after the pastor had fled.

Ramula location chief Judith Gumbo Ayodo said the two suspect are locked up at Senta sori police station, even as police carry out further probe in the incident.

The chief has warned residents against taking the law into their own hands, saying anybody found violating the law will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

Last month, a vehicle that was being used by cattle rustlers was torched after two suspects were cornered while loading a stolen cow into their vehicle during the day in Kakoth village.

One of the suspects was lynched by irate residents, while his companion escaped narrowly.

In the recent past, area residents had complained over frequent theft of their livestock by people allegedly using small vehicles in broad daylight.

During the incident, police recovered several vehicle number plates in the suspects’ car.