Six Houses Torched in Revenge Mob Attack Over Teacher's Alleged Murder in Homa Bay Land Dispute.
The incident at Wii Kawiti village (also referred to as Wi Kawiti) in Gem Sori Kachiena location, Rangwe Sub-County, Homa Bay County, stems from a long-standing and bitter land dispute between two educators that escalated dramatically over the weekend.
On Sunday, February 1, 2026, a retired teacher identified as Joseph Owuoth reportedly discovered that a section of his disputed land—where maize was planted and nearing harvest—had been cultivated or ploughed over, allegedly by a local headteacher (principal) from a nearby school in Rangwe. This sparked an initial confrontation.
According to reports from area administrators and local media, Owuoth left the scene temporarily to handle other matters at home. However, the headteacher is accused of mobilizing his brother (also said to be a teacher) and possibly others to launch a counter-attack later that day. The retired teacher and his wife were ambushed and assaulted with blunt objects (such as clubs) and sharp weapons (including machetes). Owuoth sustained severe injuries and was rushed to Kisii County Referral Hospital along with his wife, but he succumbed shortly after arrival. His wife survived but was left critically injured and receiving treatment.
Police launched a manhunt for the headteacher suspect, who went into hiding immediately after the incident, along with his brother. The attack occurred against the backdrop of an ongoing court case over the same land boundary, with a hearing reportedly scheduled for February 18, 2026.
By Tuesday, February 3, 2026, community outrage over the killing boiled over. Angry residents, believed to be relatives, friends, or supporters of the late Owuoth, mobilized and carried out a revenge attack on the accused headteacher's homestead in the same village. In the mob justice incident, six houses belonging to the headteacher and his family were set ablaze and completely torched, with dramatic scenes of flames engulfing the structures.
No immediate reports confirm casualties from the arson attack, but it highlights the deep tensions and risk of cycle-of-violence escalation in land-related conflicts in the region. Local authorities, including the area chief Peter Oula, have condemned both the initial murder and the subsequent mob action, urging calm while investigations continue.
Land disputes remain a frequent trigger for violence in parts of rural Kenya, particularly in Nyanza and other agrarian areas where ancestral boundaries, inheritance, and farming rights often lead to deadly confrontations. Police are appealing for information to apprehend the suspects in the murder, and community leaders are calling for dialogue to prevent further retaliation.
This tragic chain of events has left one family grieving a loss and another displaced amid destruction, underscoring the urgent need for peaceful resolution mechanisms in such disputes.
