Hundreds of villagers burned the house of a murder suspect involved in a love triangle, following her release from police custody.
The demonstrators from Vokoli, Vihiga county marched five kms to Lusengeli Market where they further torched Joyce Imungu’s shop after her release on Sunday.
The fire spread to other shops as the protesters blocked Eldoret-chavakali Road for hours on Monday.
An officer was injured as anti-riot police shot in the air to disperse the protesters and keep them from lynching Imungu’s friend, Emily Muhonja, who was also released.
Imungu and Muhonja were arrested on Friday over the murder of Edith Jadenya, 46, at about 2am that day.
Jadenya’s husband, 48-year old Justus Imbemba, was not at home when she and her son were attacked.
Neighbours claimed Imbemba had abandoned his family and was living with Imungu. He denied claims that he was at her house at the time of the incident.
Jadenya was stabbed in the neck with a knife while the boy was stabbed and hit with a hammer on the head.
Police officers from Mudete are reportedly carrying out investigations based on the account of a 10-year-old boy who hid under the bed during the attack.
The demonstrators were incited, said county commissioner Boaz Cherotich, adding that a security meeting would be held over the matter.