South Rift Media, South Rift Media, Kericho (2026)

28/04/2026

FEMICIDE ON THE RISE, ANOTHER GIRL FROM KURESOI SOUTH FOUND MURDERED IN BOYFRIEND'S HOUSE

Fedelis Chepchumba is a 21-year-old woman from Kuresoi, Nakuru County. She had been living in Likoni, Mombasa, for the past four months, where she relocated after securing a job at a local supermarket.

She was reported missing from her workplace, and for three days, her whereabouts remained unknown.

On Saturday, April 25, 2026, her body was discovered inside a locked house in the Mtaa wa Maka area. Police were forced to break in, where they found her lying on a bed with injuries to the face and neck.

A postmortem examination confirmed that she died as a result of manual strangulation.

Neighbors linked the house to a man identified as Austine Safu, a bakery worker in Mombasa town, who is now the prime suspect. He is believed to have fled immediately after the incident.

Her family, led by her elder brother Isaac Kipkoech Lang’at, is now demanding swift investigations and justice.

15/04/2026

𝗗𝗜𝗗 𝗦𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗟 𝗢𝗥 𝗞𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗗? 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗪𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝟮𝟬-𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗝𝗔𝗜𝗟 𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗠

𝗕𝗬: 𝗞𝗶𝗽𝗸𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗿 | 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟭𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

Magdalene Chelagat, a woman originally from Sotik, met a man in Kericho in 2022 while he was selling SIM cards. After buying a SIM card from him, they exchanged contacts and began communicating.

At the time, Magdalene was working in Nakuru, and their communication later grew into a romantic relationship.

Along the way, the man lost his job in Kericho and moved to Bomet County, where he found work as a tea plucker. During this period, Magdalene became pregnant.

The man later convinced her to move in with him at his rural home in Narok County, claiming he had financial challenges after failing to repay a loan from his employer. Magdalene agreed, hoping to start a family with him.

However, life there became difficult. A relative allegedly informed her that the man had sold his land and spent the money on personal enjoyment. He also reportedly restricted her from using social media, which caused tension in the relationship.

In one incident, the man asked to use her phone, saying his battery was dead. Magdalene handed it over, but he later left home and returned in the evening after allegedly selling the phone, leaving behind only the SIM card.

Frustrated and distressed, Magdalene returned to her parents’ home.

She later gave birth to a baby boy and informed the father, who reportedly sent some money for basic baby supplies. Despite this, she struggled to raise the child on her own.

Under pressure and facing hardship, Magdalene later approached a woman who had been unable to conceive. It is alleged that she agreed to give away her nine-month-old son for KSh 200,000, with the understanding that she would collect the payment later.

After handing over the child, she returned home and continued with her life.

However, neighbors noticed the child’s absence and reported the matter to authorities. This led to her arrest.

In court, Magdalene was charged but reportedly refused to reveal the child’s whereabouts. Investigators presented her clinic records and the child’s birth notification as evidence linking her to the case.

She was later convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

14/04/2026

𝗦𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗙𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗗 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗕𝗢𝗬, 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗗 𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥, 𝗠𝗪𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗜 𝗦𝗟𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗗 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝟮𝟬-𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗝𝗔𝗜𝗟 𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗠

𝗕𝗬: 𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘕𝘨𝘶𝘨𝘪 | 𝘈𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘭 14, 2026

Mercy Mwende, a young woman from Londiani who sat for her KCSE in 2019 and attained a C+, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence following a controversial defilement conviction that has sparked debate within her community.

According to accounts shared by her family, Mercy had connected with a man on Facebook shortly after completing her exams. The two reportedly communicated for some time before arranging to meet in person. Their first meeting took place in Elburgon, where Mercy had gone with a friend for a back-to-school photoshoot.

As the day drew to a close, the two young women were unable to secure transport back home. The man they had come to meet offered them accommodation at his residence for the night, promising they would travel the following day. They accepted the offer.

The following morning, the man is said to have left early for work, instructing them to wait until he returned or contacted them. Shortly afterward, his grandmother reportedly discovered the two women in the compound and raised alarm, accusing them of wrongdoing. In the commotion that followed, Mercy’s friend fled the scene, while Mercy was apprehended and handed over to authorities.

The situation escalated when the man (allegedly a school-going minor) was presented at the police station in uniform. Medical examinations reportedly confirmed sexual activity had taken place, leading to charges of defilement and gang r**e against both women.

Efforts by the families to resolve the matter amicably outside court were unsuccessful. While initial negotiations reportedly involved compensation, disagreements over escalating financial demands led to the case proceeding through the judicial system.

In court, Mercy’s co-accused was acquitted of all charges and released. Mercy, however, was found guilty of defilement and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The case has raised questions among observers about the circumstances surrounding the incident, the role of consent, and the broader legal framework governing such offences, especially where age, power dynamics, and conflicting testimonies are involved.

14/04/2026

𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗘 | 𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗔𝗖 𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗞𝗘?

Political undercurrents in Bomet are beginning to take shape well ahead of the 2027 race.

It is now emerging that Governor Hillary Barchok recently awarded a KSh 90 million garbage collection tender in Bomet town to a firm linked to former governor Isaac Ruto.

Insiders claim the move comes at a time when Ruto is said to have significantly stretched his financial muscle early, long before the official campaign season kicks off in February next year.

Sources further indicate that the former governor had quietly reached out to key South Rift power brokers, including Roads CS Kipchumba Murkomen and Senator Aron Cheruiyot, seeking financial and political backing.

While Senator Cheruiyot is said to have shown some openness to the request, Murkomen reportedly kept his distance.

The CS is understood to have expressed his intention to remain neutral in South Rift politics, wary of persistent claims that he interferes in local political dynamics.

As the 2027 contest slowly gathers momentum, such behind-the-scenes alignments could offer an early glimpse into the region’s shifting political alliances.

13/04/2026

A shocking incident has rocked the University of Kabianga after a student reportedly jumped from the fourth floor of one of the institution’s buildings.

According to preliminary reports, the incident occurred within the university premises, sending panic and disbelief among fellow students and staff who witnessed or responded to the scene. The student is said to have fallen from the upper floor to the ground, sustaining serious injuries.

Emergency responders and university authorities quickly intervened, and the victim was rushed to a nearby medical facility for urgent treatment. The current condition of the student has not yet been officially confirmed.

The circumstances leading to the incident remain unclear. Authorities have launched investigations to establish what may have prompted the student to take such a drastic action. Fellow students have expressed shock, with many calling for increased mental health awareness and support services within the campus.

University management is yet to issue a detailed statement regarding the incident.

More updates to follow as the story develops.

01/04/2026

𝗪𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗜𝗡 𝗦𝗨𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗞𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗜𝗡; 𝗕𝗢𝗬𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗬

𝗕𝗬: 𝗞𝗶𝗽𝗸𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗵 | 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

A 29-year-old man is in police custody in Konoin Sub-County, Bomet County, over the suspected murder of his 25-year-old girlfriend.

The suspect, identified as Charles Korir, reportedly surrendered himself at Mogogosiek Police Station, where he was immediately arrested. Authorities have since launched investigations to establish the circumstances and motive behind the incident.

According to police reports, the victim, Cynthia Chepkoech, was found dead inside the suspect’s house in Kimulot. Preliminary findings indicate that she may have been strangled, with her hands reportedly tied.

Investigators believe the incident may have been triggered by a domestic dispute, with early accounts suggesting the suspect acted in anger after the deceased expressed her intention to end the relationship.

The body was moved to Kapkatet Hospital mortuary, where it awaits a postmortem examination.

Family members have expressed shock and grief following the incident. The deceased’s uncle, Wilson Kiptonui, noted that there were no visible external injuries on her body, although there were concerning signs observed.

Local administration officials also confirmed the incident. Assistant Chief Robert Cheruiyot stated that preliminary investigations point to possible strangulation, with a wire reportedly recovered at the scene.

Authorities are also pursuing additional lines of inquiry as part of the ongoing investigation.

Police have urged members of the public to allow due process as detectives work to piece together the events leading to the woman’s death.

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31/03/2026

𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗗 𝗜𝗡 𝗞𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡, 𝗪𝗔𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗔𝗨𝗦𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗞𝗘𝗦 𝟭𝟬, 𝗦𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗡𝗘𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗦

𝗕𝗬: 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗡𝗴𝘂𝗴𝗶 | 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟯𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

Police in Nakuru County, together with officers from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), have launched investigations into the death of a 40-year-old man who died while in custody at Keringet Police Station in Kuresoi South Sub-county under unclear circumstances.

The deceased, identified as Benard Cheruiyot Kigen, had been arrested and booked on March 26, 2026, at Kiptangich Police Station on allegations of threatening to kill.

According to police reports, the incident that led to his death was first flagged by fellow inmates at around 11:30 a.m., who alerted officers that Kigen appeared unwell. Officers who responded found him in a distressed condition, during which he allegedly began hitting his head against the cell wall, causing self-inflicted injuries.

𝗛𝗜𝗧 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗟𝗟...

A clinical officer from Keringet Sub-County Hospital was called to the station and administered first aid, after which Kigen reportedly calmed down. However, his condition later deteriorated. Police say that at around 8:00 a.m. the following morning, he became critically ill, prompting officers to rush him to Keringet Sub-County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 10:00 a.m.

His body has since been preserved at a local mortuary pending a post-mortem examination, as IPOA takes over investigations to establish the exact cause of death and determine whether proper procedures were followed while he was in custody.

𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗗...

Meanwhile, accounts from residents paint a more complex picture of the events leading to Kigen’s arrest.

According to a neighbour familiar with the incident, the chain of events began with Kigen’s younger brother, popularly known as “Kibangi,” who reportedly got into a dispute at a local shop after paying KSh 10 to charge his phone. The disagreement escalated when Kibangi allegedly demanded a refund and became aggressive, at one point reportedly producing a sword and threatening the shop owner’s wife.

"He went to a shop owned by Mr. Leonard Uchumi, where he paid KSh 10 to have his phone charged. After some time, he returned to collect the phone, used it briefly, and then brought it back, claiming it was not fully charged. He demanded a refund of his money," said the source who requested not to be named.

Members of the public reportedly intervened, subdued him, and he was later handed over to authorities.

The situation reportedly intensified when Kigen himself arrived at the scene armed with a panga in an attempt to intervene. He was also disarmed by members of the public. The following day, Kigen is said to have returned armed with a spear, demanding the return of the previously confiscated weapons, prompting further intervention by villagers.

𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗗, 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗡 𝗧𝗢 𝗞𝗜𝗣𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗜𝗖𝗛...

The matter was subsequently reported to Kiptagich Police Station.

Due to what residents described as a history of prior run-ins with authorities, local policing structures, including the Nyumba Kumi initiative, were reportedly advised to assist in apprehending him.

A group of local youth is said to have joined in the arrest effort, eventually capturing Kigen and handing him over to Kiptagich Police Station, from where he was later transferred to Keringet Police Station.

Family members and community representatives who were later summoned to the station claim they found Kigen unconscious, with visible head swelling. Police officers reportedly maintained that the injuries were self-inflicted.

The incident has sparked concern among residents, with questions emerging over the circumstances under which the suspect sustained fatal injuries while in custody.

IPOA, the civilian body mandated to investigate police conduct, has now taken over the case, and is expected to conduct an independent probe, including reviewing custody records, interviewing witnesses, and overseeing the post-mortem process.

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31/03/2026

𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗞𝗘𝗗 𝗖𝗔𝗥 𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗬𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗥𝗔–𝗞𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗛𝗢 𝗥𝗢𝗔𝗗

𝗕𝗬: 𝑀𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑦 𝐾𝑜𝑒𝑐ℎ | 𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ 31, 2026, 11:08 𝐴𝑀

A cloud of mystery surrounds the sudden death of a senior police officer whose lifeless body was discovered inside his vehicle at Ikonge Market in Nyamira County.

According to police reports, the grim discovery was made after concerned members of the public noticed a vehicle that had remained parked for an unusually long time along the busy Nyamira–Kericho road. Their suspicions prompted an alert to authorities, who swiftly responded to the scene.

Upon arrival, officers found the vehicle locked from the inside, with an unresponsive man seated within. Forced to break a window to gain entry, they were met with the body of a Chief Inspector lying across the front seats. Initial observations indicated no visible physical injuries, although mucus was seen oozing from his nose, an unsettling detail that has deepened the mystery surrounding his death.

Preliminary investigations have since identified the deceased as an Officer Commanding Station (OCS) based in Kericho County. It is reported that he had left his home earlier that morning at approximately 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 29, under circumstances that remain unclear.

Authorities have yet to establish his intended destination or the events leading up to his death. He was alone in the vehicle at the time of the incident.

The body has been moved to Our Lady of Mercy Ibaraa Mortuary, where a post-mortem examination is expected to shed light on the cause of death. Meanwhile, the vehicle has been towed to Ekerenyo Police Station as part of ongoing investigations.

Police have launched a comprehensive inquiry into the incident, even as colleagues and members of the public mourn the officer, describing him as a dedicated and well-respected servant of the law.

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22/03/2026

𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗖𝗞 𝗜𝗡 𝗞𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗛𝗢 𝗔𝗦 𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗕𝗘 𝗦𝗨𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗦 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬

Police in Kericho County have launched investigations following the discovery of a suspected mass grave containing multiple bodies at a public cemetery in the Makaburini area.

According to a police report filed at Kericho Police Station (OB No. 37/21/03/2026), the incident was first reported by a member of the public on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at approximately 4:20 p.m.

Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), scenes of crime personnel, and police officers visited the site and preliminary findings revealed a freshly dug grave within the cemetery.

Investigators were guided by two local grave diggers, aged 26 and 23, who claimed they had been hired to dig the grave. The two, residents of the Makaburini area, stated that on March 19, three unidentified individuals arrived at the cemetery and held discussions with a caretaker identified only as Ezekiel.

They further alleged that the same individuals returned the following morning at around 6:00 a.m. in a white Toyota Land Cruiser and instructed them to dig a large grave. The grave diggers claim that approximately 14 bodies (some reportedly mutilated and all sealed in body bags) were subsequently deposited into the site.

Police have since launched a full investigation into the matter. Authorities say efforts are underway to trace and question the caretaker, who is currently missing.

An exhumation exercise is expected to be conducted as investigators seek to establish the identities of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

The case has been classified as pending under investigation (PUI), with more updates expected as inquiries progress.

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18/03/2026

A 23 year old man walked into Sondu Police Station on Tuesday and reported he had killed his father, Philemon Kipsang Kobel, 47, in their home in Kamogon Village of Tabaita Sub-Location, Sigowet, Kericho County.

DCI & Nyumba Kumi elders visited the home, forcing entry into the scene of crime as the said house was locked from outside.

The deceased, has sustained 3 deep cuts on back of his head. A blood stained jembe believed to be Murder weapon was also consficated.

Body was taken to Sigowet sub county hospital morgue awaiting autopsy as suspects awaits arraignment on Tuesday next week.

South Rift Media

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