Six houses burned in Rangwe after headteacher accused of killing retired teacher over land dispute

Rangwe, Homa Bay County — Tension gripped Wii Kawiti village in Kagan location after angry residents torched six houses belonging to a local headteacher accused of killing his neighbor during a land dispute. The violence broke out on Monday, February 2, following the deaths of retired teacher Joseph Owuoth and his wife, Pamela Owuoth, who allegedly succumbed to injuries sustained during a confrontation with the headteacher of Onyege Primary School. According to eyewitness accounts, the couple had returned home from a church service on Sunday, February 1, where they had received Holy Communion together. Shortly after arriving home, Owuoth reportedly went to check on his livestock and discovered the suspect grazing animals in his maize field. A dispute over the land boundary escalated into a violent altercation. Both Owuoth and his wife were fatally injured during the confrontation. News of the deaths spread quickly through the village, triggering outrage among residents who stormed the suspect’s homestead and set six houses ablaze. The mob accused the headteacher of orchestrating the fatal attack over the long-standing land disagreement. Local authorities have launched investigations into both the alleged killings and the destruction of property. Security teams have been deployed to restore calm as the community grapples with the tragic incident.