Irate residents of Kutus town in Kirinyaga demand the arrest of fish vendor for cutting off another man's genitalsPolice in Kirinyaga county are looking for a fish vendor suspected of cutting off the genitals of a 40-year old man on Friday.
The man on the run is suspected of committing the heinous act over a Sh50 debt that he allegedly owed another resident.
The resident had engaged the victim to do some casual work before sending him to the suspect to collect the Sh50 as his payment. But the fish vendor turned aggressive and insulted the victim, sparking a disagreement.
“Muthii had done his job and had not wronged anyone but when he went to Isaac to ask for the Sh50 as he had been instructed, Isaac turned violent,” Anthony Njoya, a resident, said.
Njoya explained that at some point the suspect grabbed the victim and pulled him to the back of his kiosk, where he took a knife and committed the heinous act.
Screams prompted residents to rush to the scene where they found the victim in pain and rushed him to a hospital as the alleged assailant fled.
Mwea East subcounty police commander Mohamed Jarso told the Star that the suspect is still at large and that a dragnet for his arrest has been set.
“The victim was found at the scene in a critical condition and rushed to Kerugoya referral hospital,” he said.
On Friday, the residents took to the streets demanding for the suspect's arrest and engaged police officers in running battles.
Police officers were forced to fire teargas canisters at the residents after they started stoning the suspect’s kiosk, bringing business to a standstill for hours.
A resident, Nathan Ndambiri, alleged that the suspect has issues with paying debts, saying that several residents have engaged in confrontations with him over the issue.
“Why assault him and he was peacefully going about his day and asking for his dues? Why do this to someone over Sh50?” Ndambiri wondered.
He said they will not allow the suspect to continue operating the kiosk until he’s cleared in court. “Let him leave his business and go or present himself and explain why he did what he did,” he said.
The victim’s mother Rose Wanjiru on her part expressed sorrow over the incident, saying it has put his future in jeopardy.
She said severing his genitals may make it impossible for her son to start a family, yet the suspect is a family man.
“When will I have grandchildren? How will my son be able to start a family? I want justice for my son,” she said, confirming that the victim is recuperating at Kerugoya referral hospital.