Suspects linked to the murder of six night guards reportedly attended a cleansing ritual before the attack, according to police. The attack was said to have happened at Kilingili market in Vihiga County, Kenya on March 3, 2019.
Acting Western Region Criminal Investigations Officer Shem Nyamboki said on Sunday that detectives had established that the suspects were on a revenge mission after their colleague was beaten to death by villagers in the neighbouring Ilungu market.
The gang is said to have met at a secret location for a cleansing ritual administered by an elder. The ritual involved smoking and drinking traditional brews.
Mr Nyamboki said the suspects, who blamed the guards for exposing their criminal activities, planned the attack after the burial of their colleague.
“We have arrested a suspect who sent a text message to his accomplices confirming that the night guards had been killed,” he said.
Seventeen suspects including a Class Seven pupil and a secondary school student, were arraigned in court on Wednesday last week. The prosecution, however, asked for two weeks to complete investigations before the suspects are charged with murder.
The pupil, who was taken to court with a bandage strapped around his head, wore a blood stained white T-shirt. He was arrested along with his elder brother.