Professor Tom Onyango’s father, Wilson Onyango, tearfully narrates witnessing grisly killing of son

The late Professor Tom Onyango’s father watched helplessly as four men violently hacked his son to death at a disputed land that a court had ruled belonged to the family. Professor Onyango was attacked and killed on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at Kakrigu Village, Rusinga Island. He was a professor at the Technical University College. Mzee Wilson Onyango said that one of the attackers, who concealed his panga, approached the professor, pleading to be given a small piece of land to build a house. The elder Onyango said his son told the man that the family had no problem with the request, and that he should discuss the matter with Mzee Onyango. It was at that point, Mzee Onyango said, that the attacker told the professor that “since you have taken the land, you can have it.” Mzee Onyango said that the attackers then started cutting Professor Onyango in the head with the pangas, adding that when the professor fell, the four men stepped on him, kicking his lifeless body. The men then fled the scene. Police said that two suspects, including a woman, have been arrested and are helping with the investigation. Mzee Onyango, who was cut in the hands, was treated and discharged from Mbita Subcounty Hospital.