A suspect in the murder of a retired teacher and his wife has been arrested over recent killing of a man and his wife in Rangwe Sub-County.

The suspect who is a headteacher was arrested after he surrendered himself to police at Rangwe Police Station.

During last Sunday’s incident, the suspect allegedly killed Joseph Ooko Owuoth, a retired teacher and his wife Pamela Akeyo Ooko over a land dispute. The suspect assaulted Owuoth and Pamela at Wi Kawiti village, Gem Sori Kachiena Location in Rangwe Sub-County before going into hiding.

The suspect yesterday presented himself alongside his lawyer yesterday. Rangwe Sub-County Police Commander Magdalene Chebet said they arrested the head teacher immediately.

“The headteacher surrendered to the station in company of his lawyer. We will arraign him in court,” Chebet said.

Chebet said the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) were investigating the matter.

“His offence requires further investigations. The DCI officers are going to request for orders to continue detaining him to pave way for further investigations,” Chebet said.

The death of the couple resulted from a fight over a long running land dispute whereby Owuoth sustained serious injuries after being slashed with pangas and assaulted with other crude weapon.

Enraged villagers raided the teacher’s home and burnt the teacher’s permanent house with all properties inside it. They also burnt his sugarcane plantation and looted his livestock. The mob also torched two houses belonging to his mother and step mother. They also burnt his posho mill.

Human rights defender Walter Opiyo urged residents to embrace legal mechanisms in resolving land disputes. Opiyo who is also the speaker of Bunge la Wenye Nchi said it was wrong to use violent means in handling any land disputes.

“Let residents embrace legal redress whenever they have land disputes. Violence in land disputes is uncalled for because it has now led to death of two people,” Opiyo said.

• A Tell Media / KNA report by Davis Langat