Suspected serial killer lynched by mob, body dumped into River Yala

A suspected serial killer linked to the murder of four school girls and who had kept residents of Gem living in fear has been lynched.

 The suspect, identified as Charles   Onyango, also known as 'Kwa', has been on the run for several weeks after he was captured on CCTV footage walking with two girls.

 One of the girls was later found murdered in cold blood.

 Yesterday, police officers who had been trailing the suspect nabbed him at Kibos in Kisumu and transferred him to Yala Police station.

 However, residents baying for his blood stormed the police station, grabbed him from the officers, and lynched him.

 According to police sources, while in custody, the suspect confessed to the murders and claimed that whenever he saw a girl or a woman walking alone or in a secluded place, he would be consumed with the urge to kill them.

 Gem subcounty police commander Charles Wafula, who confirmed the death, said the suspect, who was in their custody, was killed by an angry mob when they left the station for the recovery of exhibits that would assist in the case.

 Wafula said that they found roads in Yala town barricaded by big stones, stopping their movement.

 "The rowdy and angry mob pulled him out of the police vehicle and started beating him up, before burning him beyond recognition," he said.

 The police subcounty commander said his remains were then thrown in the  River Yala by the crowd, which had overwhelmed them.

 "Our efforts to protect him proved futile. We were overwhelmed by the crowd. They burned him beyond recognition and then threw his remains in River Yala. They said they did not want the family to hold any funeral rites for the suspect," said Wafula.

 He noted that while the police were trying to protect the serial killer, the angry mob almost burned the DCI vehicle.

 Wafula said the relatives, who also feared for their lives, also deserted their homes and moved to other unknown places.

 "Community members who were angered by the killings torched the home and burnt it, forcing the family members to flee. The community is saying the family is involved in a cult. They say it is something they have done for years, even when they were staying in Mombasa," said Wafula.

 Yala Township MCA William Kenyanyi praised the police and said the fear that had gripped Yala, making it a ghost town, and other parts of Gem is now gone.

 "We can now breathe a sigh of relief. Our children can now go to school without fear. We are happy with the work of the police. We pray that now our people will enjoy the peace and security," he added.

 Another resident and stakeholder, Charles Onguko of Midhine village in Gem praised the police for apprehending the suspect and restoring security in the constituency.

 The family of Angel Atieno, a Form Three student at Sagam Secondary School in Gem, Siaya County, is also yet to come to terms with the loss of their kin.

 Angel went missing after retiring to bed at her brother’s house on the night of May 25, 2025.

 Her family thought it was a normal night as she was cheerful and eager to attend school the next day. However, when she failed to turn up for breakfast, concern grew.

 Angel’s brother first arrived at the main house and asked their father if he had seen her, but he had not. “I asked my son to check the latrine, but she wasn’t there either. I was worried because she always came for breakfast at 5 am and was usually the first,” said Harun Otiende.

 Upon realising his daughter was missing, Otiende reported the matter to the village elder and the assistant chief. Soon after, Otiende’s uncle called to inform him Angel’s body had been found by the main road.

 The day after Angel’s death, another teenager, Emma Akinyi, a student at Yala Township Secondary School, was also murdered. Like Angel, Emma’s body bore deep cuts, and a pair of socks had been stuffed into her mouth.

 On July 5, the body of Veronica Odongo, a 46-year-old woman, was found in Ulumbi village.