Siaya National Polytechnic has been thrown into mourning following the brutal killing of one of its students, who worked part-time as a night guard to support himself.
The victim, identified as Owino Oloo Japheth, a Building and Civil Engineering student, was attacked while guarding a shop near Siaya KMTC on the night of Monday, September 15.
According to police reports, a gang of thugs ambushed him, tied him up, and fatally assaulted him before fleeing with goods of unknown value.
Also Read
His lifeless body was discovered the following morning, sending shockwaves through the institution and the wider Siaya community.
In a statement, the chief principal of Siaya National Polytechnic, Daniel Randa, described Japheth’s death as a devastating blow.
“It is with deep sorrow and shock that we announce the sudden passing of Japheth. He hails from Siaya County, Alego Usonga Subcounty, West Alego Location, Mahola Ulawe Sub-location, Kolal Village,” the announcement read.
The principal added that funeral arrangements will be communicated after consultations with the family, as he conveyed heartfelt condolences on behalf of the institution.
Murkomen Briefed on Student’s Death
The tragedy coincided with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen’s official visit to Siaya County, where he presided over a Jukwaa la Usalama forum alongside Governor James Orengo and local security officials.
During the forum, Achocho Plister, the deputy president of the student organisation at Siaya National Polytechnic, raised alarm over the rising insecurity in the town.
She linked the killing to poor street lighting and insufficient police patrols, especially in areas surrounding the polytechnic.
“We are mourning one of us who was killed. The insecurity is linked to lack of proper lighting behind the institution. We urge authorities to fix this and increase police patrols to protect students and locals,” Plister told the meeting.
The incident has amplified calls from both leaders and students for urgent intervention to address insecurity in Siaya town, with residents urging the government to scale up policing and invest in public lighting to avert further tragedies.