TAITA TAVETA: Police in Taita Taveta County are holding a man believed to have killed his friend following an argument over a packet of maize flour.

Omar Muhidin is suspected of orchestrating the plan last night around 10:00 p.m.

The body of the deceased, identified as Gibson Mwachofi, aged 50, was discovered early in the morning next to a bush with visible injuries.

“It was reported that there was a body lying in a nearby bush. Eldoro police officers, together with DCI Taveta, visited the scene at Marondo village. At the scene, the body of Gibson Mwachofi, a male adult aged 50 years, was found lying on the ground with visible injuries to the stomach and protruding intestines,” read a police incident report seen by Kondele News.

According to the report, “the suspect and the deceased were together last evening around 10:00 p.m., returning home from work. The deceased was carrying two kilograms of maize flour, one for himself and one for the suspect. However, when the suspect arrived near his home, the deceased refused to hand over one kilogram of maize flour.”

A struggle ensued, during which the deceased threw a panga at the suspect, which missed. The suspect then retaliated by cutting the deceased and taking his one kilogram of maize flour. Police recovered one kilogram of maize flour belonging to the deceased, as well as the deceased’s mobile phone (an Itel) and a panga at the scene.

The body has been transferred to Taveta Level Four Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem examination, while the suspect will be arraigned in court on Monday.