Police in Nakuru have launched investigations into an incident where a South Sudan national died with four others still nursing burn injuries after boda boda riders reportedly torched their home on Friday night following a dispute.
Garang Ajang, 22, died on Sunday afternoon at the Nakuru Level Five Hospital while undergoing treatment. The rest Ajang Chol Ajang, 28, Akuien Chol Ajang, 25, Guor Anya Guor, 26 and Bul Garang Bul, 28, are nursing burn injuries at the hospital.
The five were accused of sexually assaulting one of their neighbours and the matter escalated into violence.
“We have launched investigations into the incident to establish what exactly transpired and the motive of the attack.
We will arrest those found culpable,” Nakuru East sub-county police commander Ellena Kabukuru assured.
According to witnesses, the fight started when one of the Sudanese men allegedly sexually harassed a woman at around 9.30pm.
However, the Sudanese men said the woman is the one who started the whole brawl by accusing one of them of harassing her.
When they were confronted, the foreigners locked themselves up in their home at and started making desperate calls for help. But, as this was happening, the irate boda boda riders brought in petrol and set the building ablaze.
“Boda boda operators had accused them of sexually assaulting a woman before they torched their house. They stormed the house and during the confrontation, the five Sudanese locked themselves up. The attackers used petrol to set the house alight,” says Paul Maina, a neighbour.
The leader of the South Sudanese community in Nakuru, Kut Maketh Duk, said the boda boda riders had a dispute with one of them and dismissed claims that the men had assaulted a woman.
“The reason for the attack, though unconfirmed, appears to be a grudge between the boda boda riders and one of us.
The accusation that they assaulted a woman is just a scapegoat,” Duk said. He urged the police to expedite investigations and arrest the perpetrators.
South Sudan Embassy official, Kuol Agok has since condemned the incident and asked the government to ensure the victims are brought to book.
“This is an outright criminal activity and I urge the Kenyan government to expedite investigations,” he said, meanwhile, urging Sudanese community to remain calm.