Two men murdered, bodies burnt in Mt Elgon

Police are investigating the bizarre murder of two men whose badly burnt bodies were found in a forest in Mt Elgon, Bungoma County.

The deceased were identified as Jahana Cheptuit, 27, and Alex Kiprotich, 23.

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They had been killed, and their bodies were burnt in the Tomoi area within the expansive Mt Elgon Forest, according to police who visited the scene. It is also believed they were shot before the bodies were set on fire.

Police said a spent cartridge was recovered at the scene on January 24, 2025, and sent for ballistic tests.

The motive of the murder was not immediately established, police said, adding the bodies were moved to the mortuary pending an autopsy.

Police revisited the scenes where the bodies were found on Monday as part of their investigations.

The team wants to establish the motive of the murder. Locals had led police to the scene, which was deep in the forest.

The murder rekindled memories of murder incidents that used to happen in the area and were perpetrated by a criminal gang over land issues.

Locals asked police to solve the murder incidents and ensure justice is served.

Police handling the saga said the murder could be linked to the control of sections of the forest but were quick to add that was just a theory.

In Loya, Turkana County, a 35-year-old man was found dead after he had been strangled in a trench.

Police suspect the victim, Ekuwam Amuruan, was killed in retaliation to an earlier incident where another man had been found dead in a house.

The body of the latest victim was found in a trench with blood oozing from the ears, multiple bruises on the face, injuries from both hands and bruises around the neck, police said of the Sunday incident.

The body was moved to the mortuary pending an autopsy. In the same area, a 60-year-old man was found dead in his house after a suspected murder on Saturday.

The man identified as Akobo Amuran lived alone in his house when he was murdered. Police said the body lay in a pool of blood with stab wounds in the neck.

The body was moved to the mortuary pending an autopsy and investigations, police said.

Officials said police had visited the scenes to de-escalate further retaliatory killings.

In Longisa, Bomet County, a suspect was arrested following a murder incident.

The suspect was arrested by locals, who handed him over to the police for processing and possible prosecution.