A family dispute in Kiminini, Trans Nzoia County, has turned fatal after a 35-year-old man died following a physical confrontation with his brother, who went into hiding after the incident before detectives tracked him down in Kitale.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)in a statement on Wednesday, said the incident happened on August 5, 2026, at Mbai Farm Village after Nelson Wanundu and his brother, Isaack Walumoli, allegedly got into a fight following a disagreement.
Wanundu was taken to Brown’s Hospital in Kiminini the following morning for medical attention, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
His body was later taken to the mortuary at Kiminini Cottage Mission Hospital, where it is being held as detectives await a post-mortem examination.
The DCI said Walumoli disappeared after the confrontation, leading detectives from the DCI Kiminini office to begin an operation to establish his whereabouts.
“A bitter confrontation between two brothers ended in tragedy in Trans Nzoia, with detectives arresting a suspect in connection with the death of his 35-year-old brother,” the DCI stated in a statement.
Investigators said the exact circumstances that led to Wanundu’s death had not yet been established, with the post-mortem expected to help determine the cause and manner of his death.
According to the DCI, Walumoli could not be found after the incident and remained at large as detectives gathered information to establish where he had gone.
“But as the grim reality sank in, Walumoli was nowhere to be found. He remained at large, prompting detectives based at DCI Kiminini to mount an intelligence-led operation to trace his whereabouts,” the agency said.
The search eventually led detectives to Kitale Town, where they located and arrested Walumoli before taking him to Kiminini Police Station.
“Acting on actionable intelligence, detectives trailed him to Kitale Town, where they arrested him,” the DCI maintained.
Walumoli is being held at Kiminini Police Station as detectives continue processing the case before he is taken to court.
The investigation is expected to focus on the events surrounding the confrontation and the evidence needed to support the case against the suspect.
“The DCI remains committed to conducting thorough investigation and ensuring that justice is served,” the agency added.
The incident adds to a number of homicide cases handled by investigators, with the DCI's Homicide Investigations Directorate responsible for investigating or taking over homicide cases across the country.
The directorate handles cases involving violent deaths and works with forensic experts, pathologists and other specialised units during investigations.
Official crime figures show the wider scale of homicide cases dealt with by authorities. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics reported 3,015 homicide cases in 2024, compared with 3,031 recorded in 2023.
The 2026 Economic Survey also reported a rise in murder cases registered at the High Courts, which increased by 25.4 per cent to 914 in 2025. Murder convictions also went up by 37.4 per cent to 514 during the same period.
The latest case is also among recent investigations in Kiminini involving people who were known to each other.
In August, detectives in the area arrested a 21-year-old man following the death of a farm worker after a dispute over a mobile phone allegedly turned into a physical fight.
Earlier in August, detectives in Trans Nzoia also arrested a 32-year-old man over the alleged murder of his wife following a domestic dispute in Sabwani Village, Kiminini Sub-County.
The circumstances surrounding Wanundu's death remain under investigation, with Walumoli expected to face court proceedings once detectives complete processing the case.
The DCI has appealed to anyone with information that could help investigators to report anonymously through its toll-free number 0800 722 203 or WhatsApp number 0709 570 000.