Self confessed serial killer Masten Wanjala who was accused of murdering at least 13 minors in and around the capital Nairobi, Eastern and Western Kenya, on the evening of Thursday, 14th October 2021 was lynched to death.
Wanjala had just the day earlier escaped from police custody at Jogoo Road police station. Following his escape, three police officers including the officer commanding station are facing charges. Confirming the Thursday evening incident, area chief stated that locals broke into a house a fleeing Wanjala had locked himself in.
“He is dead. Despite the heavy security presence, the public overpowered them and lynched him. The body is yet to be picked. It still lies at the scene,”
Bungoma North Chief Boniface Wanjala Diera.
Serial Killer Masten Wanjala lynched; justice served?
What more to add? Possibly the concern we all have of his escape from police custody. Especially if indeed he was the one responsible for the murders of those 13 minors. Much like the equally chilling Caroline Kangogo story, unexplained deaths of serious criminals outside Kenya’s justice system should concern us all. Because, as much as some may say ‘you die by the hand you lived by’, sentencing or acquittal after due court process a life sentence sounds equally as good. More importantly, that our criminal justice system seems to have a proficiency in letting these dangerous criminals slip through the cracks is simply terrifying.
The injustice
Injustice?
Viral social media video shows how the self confessed serial killer met his death in his native village of Mukhweya, Kabuchai constituency, Bungoma County. In the amateur video, a charged crowd surrounds a family bungalow that appears complete but unfinished.
Comotion.
More comotion.
Then, a few frames in which we see a man lying on the ground, blows from crude weapons raining on him.
All this happens a few steps from the foyer, in the space in front of the complete but unfinished house. In Bukusu culture, we call this place the luya. It is the most important part of a Bukusu homestead. Indeed, it is sacred. All important rites pertaining to the household take place here: from the Bukusu circumcision rite of khuchukhila, to the actual cut itself.
As such, if blood is to be shed here, it has to be blood one of those the home. The luya being somewhat of a home’s shrine, the lynching of a disturbed, dark soul such as that of Masten Wanjala in a family’s luya is a tragic injustice to this household. Like the dog he was presumed to be, the very least that this family deserved was for Wanjala to be dragged to the road to met his death there. If that was how it had to be.
What next?
For the unfortunate family whose sanctity of luya was so violated, an odorous journey lies ahead. As people of the spirit of mulembe, it will be irresponsible for this family and community to carry on as if nothing happened. More so if, god forbid, it happens that the innocent family was in any way related to the late Wanjala.
What they chose to do to reclaim the sanctity of their luya is a personal, family or clan matter. What we know is that the consequences can be costly – we have witnessed entire farms abandoned, newly built houses vacated all because of bloodshed; such is the power of the spirit of mulembe.
For Masten Wanjala, once the state is done with him, his will be a burial conducted according to Bukusu customs that govern such unusual deaths like suicide. He will suffer the shame of an unmarked grave among the bananas; interment by his maternal relatives (bukhochawe) rather than his clan; burial under the cover of darkness among other rituals.
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