Murdered police officer had pleaded with parents to pray for him after deployment

After being assigned to the unstable area, Edwin Matayo Omari, 28, one of the GSU policemen killed on Sunday by bandits, asked his parents to pray for him.

His mother, Ms. Alice Kerubo, informed the Nation that she last spoke to her son on Saturday, the day before he passed away, at their house in Ratandi-Bogusero village, Kitutu Chache South, Kisii County.

“His father had called him to ask for school fees for his siblings who were to open school from today. He promised to help but he insisted that we should always remember him in prayers. These are the same words that he used to tell us every time we communicated,” Ms Kerubo said.

At the family’s home, there was a somber atmosphere as mourners congregated in small groups, speaking in quiet tones and comforting Ms Kerubo, whose son, her first-born kid, was the sole glimmer of hope for the family.

Paul Omari, the father of Mr. Matayo, wasn’t home. He had been summoned by the authorities to the city to pick up his son’s remains from Wilson Airport. However, when a family member contacted to ask him a question, he disclosed the state of his son’s body.

“Walimvunja vibaya sana (he was dismembered),” Mr Omari was overheard saying through speaker phone.

Amid tears, Ms Kerubo braved herself to explain how difficult it was to get their son into the police service.

“We struggled. We are just peasant farmers. We educated our son, but he did not find a job even after completing a plumbing course. When he got the opportunity to join the police, we said Alhamdulillah (Thank God) because we knew he would change our lives,” Ms Kerubo added.

Mr Matayo’s sister, Ms Melvine Kemunto, recounted that her brother always came to their rescue whenever they had a problem.

“We could call him at will, asking for financial support. If he had money, he would gladly send it. He had taken the burden of paying our fees off our parents’ shoulders,” Ms Kemunto said.

Turkana was Mr Matayo’s second deployment. His first posting was in Chepchoina, Trans Nzoia County. He had been in the service for barely one year and slightly over a month in Turkana, his mother said.

He joined the service a year ago and was due to commemorate his first anniversary in November.

His grandfather, Mr Zebedeo Moindi took issue with his grandson’s deployment in a hostile area. He lamented that the young man had recently graduated from training and was not ready to be deployed to the restive region.

“Why do they send young inexperienced officers to such areas where banditry is the order of the day? It is not good to train young people and then send them to such areas yet they have not gained a lot, leave alone mastering the terrain,” Mzee Moindi lamented.

He urged President William Ruto to hasten his naming of the Cabinet so that the country could have someone in charge of security.

“We know of Dr Fred Matiang’i, who held that docket very well. The President should pick someone who will work like the outgoing Interior Cabinet Secretary,” Mr Moindi said.

Commenting on the attack, President Ruto ordered the police to deal with cattle rustlers firmly and decisively. The President posted on Twitter: “After receiving a comprehensive report on the Turkana/Pokot incident that led to 10 security/administration officers losing their lives, I have instructed security agencies to deal firmly, decisively and conclusively with those involved, cattle rustling will stop na sio tafadhali.”

Mr Matayo’s family has asked for support from the government to pay for expenses related to their loss. The late officer leaves behind a widow and a two-year-old daughter.