A Maseno University graduate who allegedly was part of a four-man gang that raped three cousins and killed grandma confessed to the act and jotted a few notes down.
Irate residents of Litein got suspicious when they found out that the cclass of 2018 graduate was in possession of injured Richard Chepkwony whose 79-year-old wife was killed during the incident.
The note Lang’at wrote is reportedly the one police used to track and arrest another suspect that was part of the rapist gang.
Confessed he participated
According to Bernard Boit, a neighbour who witnessed the happening, Sylvester Langat,24, showed up at the home at 6am. He added that Langat confessed to the murder and rape after hours of interrogation.
“I was one of the first people to be called when Langat arrived at the home at 6am. Upon interrogation, which lasted for hours, he confessed that he was among the four-member gang which had killed Ann Chepkwony and raped her granddaughters,” said Boit.
Didn’t kill granny
Boit added that Langat said he participated in the rape of 20, 16 and 11-year-old victims but did not hit the granny.
A police report indicated that the gang had used knives, chisels and iron bars during the incident which also left the house owner and a housemaid unconscious.
Kericho County Police Commander James Mugera confirmed Sylvester Langat’s lynching.
“The suspect allegedly confessed to the crime. Unfortunately, by the time police officers arrived at the scene, they had lynched him,” he said.
Lang’ats neighbour speaks
Sylvester Langat lived in a single room, a few metres from the family, paying Sh2000 rent per month.
The newly-constructed residential building comprised five single rooms made of bricks.
The Standard team spoke to his landlord Wilborn Koech, who said Langat had lived there for a month.
Inside Lang’at’s room
“For the period he has been living at my rental house, he has been spending his time in and out of the house. He has been drunk most of the time,” said Koech.
Inside Langat’s house, a new Bible lay on a stool beside his unmade bed.
A framed graduation picture of Langat sandwiched between his mother and a senior county official hung on the wall.