The Kenya Defence Forces soldier who fired 30 bullets into his step-mother’s body shortly after overpowering his girlfriend had returned from Somalia two days ago.
The 32-year-old KDF man, Haron Tiony, is said to have been in Somalia fighting the Alsha-Baab for the last 10 months. After the return from a peace-keeping mission from the war tone nation two days ago he was allowed to go home for a break.
first shot dead his girlfriend, an army officer, and then stormed into his step-mum’s house and shot her dead.
Tiony according to neighbors, arrived on Monday where he drank alcohol Monday night through early Tuesday before going home, where he woke up his girlfriend and asked her to accompany him to his aunt’s house.
The two – Tiony and his girlfriend – went to Tiony’s step-mum’s house, but upon knocking, the middle-aged woman declined to open the door.
Tiony, thereafter, went berserk and started firing bullets randomly into the air.
His girlfriend tried to restrain him, but he overpowered her. He first shot dead his girlfriend, also an army officer based at RTS Kamagut before storming into his aunt’s house.
Tiony after breaking down the door of his aunt’s house, confronted her before pumping at least 30 bullets into her body, killing her on the spot.
Still armed with a deadly M4 rifle, Tiony got into the Land Cruiser and drove to Muge’s home. He rammed the gate to gain entry into the compound, then crushed the wall using the vehicle to access his uncle’s house. He the shot him on the head killing him instantly.
Upon killing his uncle, he turned the gun on himself and fatally fired a bullet into his head.
After killing the two, Tiony got into the Land Cruiser and drove to Muge’s home. He rammed the gate to gain entry into the compound, then crushed the wall using the vehicle to access his uncle’s house.
The officer said Muge’s wife and child fled to a neighbour’s home when they heard a commotion.
Bitok said Tiony, attached to the Directorate of Military Intelligence, had kept his firearm and ammunition at Jua Kali police post for the four days before the killings.
Neighbours said sounds of gunshots woke them up. They said they did not understand why Tiony killed Muge, who had raised and educated him.
Florence, Muge’s widow, said: “We are so shocked because we have lived peacefully. We lived with him after his parents died. We supported him throughout his education. We don’t know what became of him.”
It was not immediately established how the soldier was allowed to carry the firearm from his work station.
Local members of the Nyumba Kumi initiative pointed an accusing finger at KDF for allowing the soldier to leave the barracks with a firearm.
Eldoret West OCPD, Zacharia Bitok, confirmed the incident. The four bodies were taken to an Eldoret hospital morgue.