A murder suspect who was attempting to flee from police arrest in Nandi County on Monday night allegedly jumped to his death from the rooftop of a house at his parent’s home.
Following the incident tension remained high in the area as residents protested against the incident, alleging the suspect might have been shot by the police.
Anti-riot officers have since been deployed to control the situation.
Kabiyet OCPD Simon Muli said the youthful man had resisted arrest and locked himself in the house when police arrived at the home.
The home is located in Sangalo village. Attempts by police to force him to surrender failed as he allegedly resorted to threatening the officers.
The officers fired bullets in the air to force the man to surrender but in vain.
Later the man climbed to the rooftop of the house in a bid to jump and flee from the officers, police said.
“He jumped from the rooftop and fell on a tree that had been cut which ripped his stomach open,” Muli said.
The officers took the man to a hospital in Kapsabet town where he died of the injuries early today.
Muli explained that the deceased was wanted for the alleged murder of his stepbrother last December in Chesumei area.
The stepbrother had in turn been a suspect in the death of their father.
Muli said the family had allegedly been entangled in land disputes that led to the two earlier killings.
The officers who raided the house of the suspect were from Chesumei and had been tasked to arrest the suspect who allegedly jumped to his death.
Muli said investigations had been done into the December killing of the stepbrother and that the deceased was to be arrested and taken to court.
Muli denied reports that the suspect was shot by police.
“The deceased was not shot and the facts are as clear as what I have explained," Muli said.
Muli said police had nothing to hide and that an official report would be released as concerns how the incident happened.
