Gathigiriri Residents Protest After Nyumba Kumi Elders Allegedly Beat Man to Death Over Slasher Theft
Tension is high in Gathigiriri village, Kirinyaga County, after angry residents staged protests accusing local Nyumba Kumi elders of beating a middle-aged man to death.
The man, commonly known by his nickname “Msanii,” was allegedly attacked and assaulted by the elders who accused him of stealing a simple grass-cutting tool — a slasher — worth around Ksh. 100.
According to Peter Kinyua, a resident who witnessed the incident, the elders descended on the victim and subjected him to a brutal beating after suspecting him of theft.
“They claimed he had stolen a slasher, and instead of reporting him to the police, they decided to take the law into their own hands,” said Kinyua.
Following the incident, enraged villagers chased the elders out of the area in protest. Many expressed shock and anger at how the Nyumba Kumi elders, who are supposed to enhance community safety and harmony, had turned into enforcers of violence.
Lucy Wambui, another local resident, questioned why such elders were allowed to operate with impunity.
“We don’t want such elders in our village anymore,” she said. “We don’t understand why the Mwea-East Sub-County security team has given them such power to punish fellow residents.
One of them even handcuffed the deceased using a crude local metal chain. That’s not justice — that’s torture.”
The villagers are now demanding that the elders involved in the incident face legal action for their role in what they describe as a senseless and avoidable killing.
They also revealed that this is not the first time the Nyumba Kumi elders have misused their authority.
Some accused them of previously forcing a young man to leave the village simply because he was suspected of having a romantic relationship with someone they disapproved of.
The incident has sparked outrage and renewed debate about the role and limits of Nyumba Kumi in local governance and justice.
Speaking on the matter, Mwea-East Sub-County Police Commander Mohammed Jarso confirmed that police have launched a full investigation into the incident. He said they are currently waiting for a postmortem examination to determine the exact cause of Msanii’s death.
“We have already asked the Nyumba Kumi elders involved to record official statements with the police. Investigations are ongoing as we wait for the results of the postmortem,” said Jarso.
“We are urging members of the public to remain calm and avoid taking matters into their own hands. Justice will be served through the right legal channels.”
The tragic incident has left the village in mourning, with residents calling for reforms and tighter oversight of Nyumba Kumi operations to prevent abuse of power and ensure such brutality never happens again.
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