Authorities in Nandi County are investigating the mysterious death of a fugitive murder suspect who allegedly leaped to his death while attempting to evade arrest.
The suspect, identified as Dennis Kipyego, reportedly fell from the roof of his home in Sang’alo village on Monday night, sustaining fatal injuries.
According to Nandi North Police Commander Simon Muli, officers from Chemundu Police Station surrounded Kipyego’s house after receiving intelligence about his whereabouts. Despite being ordered to surrender, the suspect refused to open the door and instead attempted to escape through the roof.
“He broke through the rooftop and jumped out, unfortunately landing on a sharp object that severely injured his abdomen,” Muli stated. The officers rushed him to Kapsabet County Referral Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries early Tuesday morning.
Kipyego, a student at Kaiboi National Polytechnic, was the prime suspect in the murder of his stepbrother, which took place in December last year in Chemuswa. Authorities believe the killing stemmed from a dispute over family land inheritance, and Kipyego had been on the run ever since.
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Following his death, tensions flared in Sang’alo village as residents protested the police operation, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s demise. Some villagers pointed to spent cartridges found near the house, speculating that officers may have shot Kipyego before taking him to the hospital.
Security forces were deployed to restore order as investigations into the incident commenced. Meanwhile, Kipyego’s relatives, including James Mutai, are demanding a thorough probe to establish the exact cause of his death.
