Police officers at Sabatia Police Station in Vihiga County are holding in custody a 45-year-old man in connection with the brutal murder of his brother that has left area residents in shock.

Sabatia Sub County Police Commander (SCPC) Mr. Genaro Mwangi confirmed the tragic incident which occurred Monday night at Manyunguli village, Demesi Sub Location in Izava South location.

According to police records, the suspect, Mr. Patrick Simwa Isabwa and the deceased, Evans Alumasa Isabwa, 33 years, engaged in a fierce altercation over an unknown issue before the former assaulted to death the latter using a blunt object.

However, speaking separately to KNA on Wednesday morning the area Chief Alex Ukiru indicate the two brothers engaged in the fierce fight following a disagreement over who was to prepare the day’s supper

“The two had been living as senior bachelors and often fending for themselves,” reported Ukiru.

According to the local administrator, on the fateful evening, the deceased arrived home with a packet of maize flour before requesting the elder brother to prepare a meal of Ugali.

“However, the suspect refused to cook and instead told the brother that he was not his wife,” said the chief.

“The response seemed to have irked the deceased who slapped the brother prompting the violent fight that eventually led to the murder,” he added.

The chief described the deceased as a humble and hardworking person compared to the suspect.

Preliminary investigations according to Genaro agree with the chief’s report that both the suspect and deceased had been living together in the same house until Monday night when the tragedy occurred, Genaro told Kenya News Agency (KNA).

The SCPC said Simwa hit the brother several times on the head

using a hammer. He then rushed to report the incident to their mother who lives in the same compound.

“The mother raised the alarm, which attracted villagers to the compound before police officers moved in and arrested the suspect besides retrieving the body,” said Genaro

Genaro confirmed that security agents had launched investigations into the matter in order to establish exact cause of the death.

The body was removed to Vihiga County Referral Hospital mortuary.