Police in Masaba South, Kisii, have launched a manhunt for a landlord who assaulted one of his student tenants and chopped off his fingers.
The incident occurred on Friday night when the landlord confronted Newton Nyabuto, a student at Keroka Technical Institute, over rent arrears totaling over 500 shillings.
According to Sub-County Police boss Samuel Gitau, the police are actively pursuing leads and intensifying their search for the fugitive landlord. Gitau stated that they are not resting until the suspect is apprehended.
Immediately after the assault, the landlord fled the scene. Nyabuto, who is in his second year of studying mechanical engineering, explained that he had just returned from his attachment when the confrontation occurred.
He claimed to have already paid 2,000 shillings and requested two more days to settle the remaining arrears. However, the landlord allegedly dragged him out and attacked him with a machete, resulting in the loss of his fingers.
The Friday incident caused tension among the students, leading to the vandalism of the landlord’s property. Enraged by the assault on their fellow student, the students took matters into their own hands and destroyed one of the houses owned by the suspect.
The police are actively working to apprehend the landlord and bring him to justice, while also addressing the tensions and property damage caused by the incident.
