A sombre mood engulfed residents of Kigatuni village in Chuka Igambang’ombe constituency as remains of the slain Kamaindi chief Japhet Majau were lowered into the grave in the burial attended by county and national government leaders.
The 59-year-old chief was murdered on April 30 outside his brother’s house where he had been sent by Igambang’ombe deputy county commissioner Fred Masinjila to solve a dispute between the brother and a resident.
The brother Gikware Mukengu had reportedly seized some goats belonging to a resident that had trespassed into his parcel of land rekindling a long lasting row between the administrator’s family and the villagers.
Irate residents descended on him with crude weapons slicing him into pieces before setting him on fire.
The following day, Chuka OCS Joseph Kinyua was killed as he pursued a suspect in the killing of the chief at Ugweri market in Embu County who was also shot dead at the shopping centre.
A police informer who is a kin to the late chief and who had accompanied the OCS was attacked by mob and later succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment at Tenri Hospital.
The chief leaves behind wife Gladys Kanini and four children, Eliud Muchiri, Fridah Gacheri, John Mwenda and Justin Mugao.
He was a devoted Christian and served as the Pastor at his local Mbaria Evangelistic church and as the National General Secretary of the Evangelical churches.
The late administrator worked with public works from 1984 to 1986 and was employed as the Kamaindi chief in 1999 and later rose to the rank of a senior chief that he served till his demise.
The alumni of Kiriari Secondary school (1980-1983) joined Administration Police Training College in Kiganjo where he did paramilitary course (2007) and later pursued a Diploma course in Theology.
Leaders at the burial among them Governor Muthomi Njuki, County Commissioner Beverly Opwora and Chuka Igambang’ombe MP Patrick Munene assured the family of justice and eulogized the chief as a diligent civil servant.
The county commissioner noted that 13 suspects had so far been arrested in connection to the killing and stressed that others involved in the crime will be arrested to face full force of law.
“It will not be business as usual especially when chief was killed while in line of duty and rule of law must be upheld,” Ms Opwora said and called on the residents to volunteer information that would to arrest of others involved in the gruesome murder.
Governor Njuki said the community should not be condemned as the crime was only committed by few people.
He asked residents who fled their homes after mammoth of General Service Unite police officers were deployed at the area to comb the village to return to their homes assuring them that no innocent person will be victimized.
Njuki asked residents to always embrace dialogue in solving differences to avoid occurrence of such incidences.
The area MP called for unity and forgiveness among the residents and noted that he had set aside some Sh100, 000 for an interdenominational reconciliatory meeting at the village.
Igambang’ombe MCA Njeri Kigwari asked police still hunting down for other suspects to ensure that no innocent person is victimized.
