Burned Alive, Blamed for Murder: Widow Fights for Justice in Uasin Gishu

A grieving widow in Uasin Gishu County is calling for justice after her husband, Philip Moi, was gruesomely murdered and burnt to death in their home in Kimoson Village, Kipkenyo ward, in what appears to be a violent land-related dispute. The victim’s widow, Caroline Cherotich Moi, says the attack was carried out in broad daylight by known individuals linked to local political and criminal networks — and that instead of protecting her or investigating the case, police arrested her and blamed her for the murder.

The horrifying incident occurred on April 3, 2025, as Caroline and her husband were having tea in their home. Caroline recounts that the peaceful morning quickly turned into chaos when they heard noises outside that sounded like a power saw cutting through trees.

“My husband stepped out to check what was happening,” Caroline said. “He found people cutting our fence and told me to bring my phone so we could record the scene. Before I could even begin, one of them grabbed the phone from me and another started beating me. When I tried to ask for my phone back, even the area MCA came and hit me, and I fell down.”

According to Caroline, the situation escalated quickly. The mob, accusing Philip of being a witchdoctor — a claim she firmly denies — dragged him toward the house. “I could hear them shouting that they wanted ‘the bones,’” she said, referencing a common myth used to label someone as a witch. “My husband kept pleading with them, saying we had nothing like that. But they pushed him into the house and set it on fire.”

Caroline, in tears, says her husband told her to run and get their important documents as he was being beaten and pulled away. She managed to escape and ran barefoot to Eldoret Central Police Station, more than 8 kilometers away.

“When I got there, I told them that my husband was being burnt alive in our house,” she said. “Instead of helping me, they told me to go to the office of the County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO). I went there and explained everything, but the officer told me that they had already heard he was not burnt. Then, two police officers came and took me to a cell.”

Caroline was detained and later informed she was being treated as a suspect in her husband’s murder — an accusation she says is both cruel and baseless. “They said I had left two weeks earlier after a quarrel. But we had no such fight. I had gone to school to do my exams. Even if my husband came back to life today, he would confirm that we were on good terms.”

Her family, upon learning of her arrest, rushed to her aid, bringing along a DCI officer, Rafael Opande, who assured her that she would be helped. But by then, her husband’s body had already been removed, and she was excluded from both the postmortem and the burial process.

“He wasn’t even buried at our home in Kipkenyo. They took him to Kericho. I wasn’t consulted. They treated me like I was nobody,” she added.

Activists Raise Alarm Over Deep-Rooted Criminal Networks

Caroline's case has sparked outrage among local human rights defenders and civil society groups, who say her experience is part of a broader pattern of land-related violence, impunity, and police complicity in the region.

Kimutai Kirui, an activist with the Centre Against Torture, has called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters in Nairobi and the Inspector General of Police to take over the case, citing long-standing issues in Langas and Kipkenyo areas.

“This is not just about one murder,” Kirui said. “Since 2014, residents here have been living in fear because of goons affiliated with David Kimeli Letting, commonly known as Kokwas. These criminals have taken land, harassed people, and carried out murders under the protection of political leaders. Philip Moi is just one of many victims.”

According to Kirui, the mode of operation for these gangs often involves assaulting their targets, then throwing them into water or setting their bodies on fire to distort postmortem findings.

“Philip was first hit on the head, then burnt inside the house to make it look like suicide or an accident,” Kirui explained. “Caroline witnessed everything. She saw Kokwas there. She knows what he said and what he did. And yet, she is the one who was arrested. That tells you everything you need to know about the state of justice here.”

Condemnation from Social Justice Groups

Other civil rights groups have also weighed in. Benson Juma Akumu from the Eldoret Social Justice Centre condemned the police response and called for a full investigation.

“It is beyond belief that a woman whose husband was murdered during the day could go to the police for help, only to be jailed instead,” said Juma. “Why didn’t police or the neighbors try to save the man when he was burning? And why was a fire engine sent instead of an ambulance? This shows either neglect or deliberate intent to cover up the crime.”

Akumu added that the police in Langas are widely believed to be working under the influence of local politicians and land cartels. “We want land fraud investigators from Nairobi to be dispatched immediately. We give authorities seven days to arrest all those involved — because they are known.”

Police and Prosecutors Respond

When contacted, Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi confirmed that the case had been reported and that an investigation file was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), which recommended an inquest into the circumstances surrounding Philip Moi’s death.

“An inquest is one of the legal avenues we use to determine the cause of death and establish criminal liability,” Mwanthi said. “It will be presided over by a judge, and if any individual is found culpable, they will face the full force of the law.”

Mwanthi encouraged Caroline to continue cooperating with investigators and to provide any additional evidence that was not recorded in her initial statement. “Justice will be done. I assure the public that this matter is being taken seriously.”

County Criminal Investigations Officer Daniel Muleli echoed these sentiments, saying investigations were still active. “We have not closed the file. Anyone with new evidence can come forward. Caroline recently gave us more information, and we have recorded her statement. No side is being favored.”

However, critics say an inquest is an inadequate response given the severity and visibility of the crime.

Call for National Government Intervention

As public frustration grows, activists and local leaders are now calling on the national government to intervene directly and launch a thorough probe into the activities of politically protected gangs in Uasin Gishu.

“This is a test case,” said Kirui. “If the DCI, the ODPP, and the judiciary can’t secure justice for a man burnt to death while his wife watched, what hope is there for the ordinary Kenyan farmer, widow, or student?”

Caroline Cherotich Moi, for her part, remains in hiding, fearful for her safety and still mourning the man she lost. “They want to silence me,” she says. “But I will not stop speaking. I want justice — for Philip, for me, and for everyone else who’s been hurt by these people.”