Tragedy at Turkana construction site: Man sentenced to 25 years for murder over yeast dispute

In a case that has stunned the Turkana community, a 21-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the brutal murder of a fellow construction worker following a dispute over yeast at a building site in Lodwar.

Geofrey Lorogot Esekon, 21, was convicted by Justice Reuben Nyakundi at the High Court in Lodwar for the murder of Paul Emunyen Kariwo on March 21, 2023. 

The fatal confrontation unfolded at a construction site within the Kisumu Youth Polytechnic in Turkana County, where both men were working.

According to eyewitnesses, the argument between the two escalated when Esekon accused Kariwo of failing to provide yeast, a fermentation ingredient. 

The court heard that Esekon violently assaulted Kariwo, pushing, punching and dragging him into a kitchen on-site before ultimately throwing him out of the house.

In her testimony, witness Lydia Akai described how Esekon continued to beat Kariwo before forcing him to drink a mixture of milk, sugar, and flour. 

Another worker, Lowoi Kono, corroborated the assault and stated that the victim was left lying unconscious on the ground.

A mortuary attendant later confirmed that Kariwo had died before reaching the hospital. 

A post-mortem by government pathologist Dr. Ekiru revealed multiple severe injuries, including a cracked skull, bleeding in the chest cavity (bilateral haemothorax), pulmonary oedema, and a massive extradural hematoma—all consistent with blunt force trauma.

In delivering the judgment, Justice Nyakundi found the assault to be deliberate and premeditated, describing it as a "fait accompli" act executed with malice aforethought. 

“This is a man who had premeditated that his mission on the material day was to create an excuse by demanding some yeast,” the judge remarked. 

“He then proceeded to inflict bodily injuries… until he confirmed that his mission was complete.”

While the accused pleaded not guilty and claimed in his unsworn defence that he had not caused Kariwo’s death, the court found the prosecution had established the elements of murder—namely the unlawful killing, the identity of the assailant, and the intent—beyond a reasonable doubt.

In mitigation, defence counsel MaryAnne highlighted that Esekon was only 21 years old at the time of the offence, was a first-time offender, and expressed remorse. 

The court acknowledged the mitigating factors but ultimately ruled that the aggravating circumstances outweighed them.

Justice Nyakundi sentenced Esekon to 25 years in prison, backdated to March 31, 2023, when he was first taken into custody. 

Citing the constitutional protection of the right to life under Article 26, the judge emphasised the need for deterrence and societal accountability in homicide cases.

“Death is avoidable. We can save the lives of other citizens, our wives, girlfriends, and drinking partners, where we promote social capital,” the judge said in a closing reflection.

 “A man or woman who violates the Constitution by terminating another’s life must know that the courts are not encouraged to be moved by pleas of domestic hardship afterwards.”