Mawe tatu: A family in the Mawe Tatu Sub-Location of Likuyani Sub-County, Kakamega County, is desperately seeking justice after their kin, a 28-year-old deaf man named Josphat Etyang, was brutally lynched and burned by unknown assailants on Wednesday night.

According to Kenya News Agency, the tragic incident occurred when assailants forcefully removed Etyang from his home. His family, including his mother Beatrice Wanyonyi, were awakened by the shouts and chants of a mob, only to discover that it was Etyang who was being targeted. Wanyonyi expressed her shock and fear, recalling that the attackers had previously demolished their homes in June of the previous year, and she worried they might return for another family member.

Wanyonyi recounted the horrifying details, explaining that the attackers wrapped Etyang in his own blanket and carried him away, preventing him from crying for help. The family initially thought they were hearing circumcision songs, only to realize the mob was chanting for Etyang, who was then beaten to death and set ablaze. Wanyonyi voiced her frustration, stating that despite knowing the identities of the assailants, who were reportedly local boda-boda operators, no action had been taken against them.

Mawe Tatu Assistant Chief Moses Shiundu condemned the incident and urged the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands. He noted that the Etyang family had previously been linked to local criminal activities, with two of Etyang's brothers having been arrested and jailed in the past. However, he emphasized that this did not justify the brutal murder and assured that the government would work to bring those responsible to justice.

Assistant Chief Shiundu called for the community to utilize government offices to resolve grievances instead of resorting to mob justice. He pledged that the authorities would do everything in their power to ensure those involved in the heinous act are held accountable.