A grieving family in Kondele, Kisumu County, is crying out for justice after the brutal killing of their relative, Didmus Murunga, who was hacked to death with a machete just meters from his home.
The murder, which occurred in one of Kisumu’s most volatile neighborhoods, has sparked outrage and renewed calls for accountability from Kenya’s security agencies.
The tragedy unfolded days after the Nyanza regional security department announced a crackdown on criminal gangs operating in Kisumu. Kondele, long plagued by gang violence and lawlessness, was listed among the targeted hotspots. Murunga’s death now casts a shadow over the effectiveness of these operations.
Leading the family’s appeal is Suleiman Makau Shiundu, who described the pain of losing a loved one in such a senseless act.
“We are not just mourning Didmus, we are mourning the failure of a system that should protect us,” he said. “We demand that Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen ensures Kenyans are safe, and that those responsible are brought to justice.”
Vincent Mumia Atitwa, a close relative to the deceased, echoed the call for swift action. “This was not just a murder, it was a message from criminals who believe they own our streets,” he said. “If the government is serious about security, let them prove it by arresting those behind this heinous act.”
Dedan Shiundu, a brother to the deceased , emphasized the emotional toll the killing has taken on the community. “We are tired of burying our sons,” he said, his voice heavy with grief. “We want answers. We want justice. And we want peace.”
Miriam Murunga, Didmus’s wife, made a heartfelt plea to the authorities. “My husband’s blood cries out from the ground,” she said. “Let it not be in vain. Let this be the moment when the government finally listens to the cries of its people.”
As the family prepares for Murung’a’s burial, their voices rise not just in sorrow, but in defiance. They are calling on the Ministry of Interior and the police to act, not with statements, but with arrests, prosecutions, and lasting reforms.
