NAIROBI, Kenya -                             A chief in a Kenyan town, Kakamega has been arrested by the police for failing to protect a chicken thief who was butchered by attackers at Khayega market.

The said chief was arrested along 26 suspects for failure to act in an incident where the alleged chicken thief was cut into pieces live.

A video recording of the attacker cutting the deceased into pieces using a panga in full glare of the public went viral prompting the Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang’i to act.

Four more suspects were arrested in connection with the July 12 incident that left netizens in shock.

The men were alleged to have attacked the deceased at Khayega market for allegedly stealing a car battery, two chicken and a charcoal jiko.

In the disturbing video, one attacker believed to be the prime suspect, Lisecho, is seen slashing the deceased despite pleas from onlookers to spare the victim.

“It has been established that through various acts of commission and collusion, the incident was falsely reported as a case of mob injustice. However, the shocking video showed a helpless man being hacked to death as villagers around him watched,” read a statement issued to newsrooms.

The CS confirmed that the alleged murderer and the owner of the crude weapons used alongside other bystanders have been arrested.

“The chief was in close proximity of the scene of crime and failed to take any administrative action. The victim of the incident has not been identified but his fingerprints have been taken for forensic examination and identification,” said Matiang’i.

When they were arraigned, they did not take plea after the investigating officer sought for 15 days to conclude their probe.

Police Constable Athman Ali told the court that the suspects are yet to undergo the mandatory mental assessment tests as well as recording statements from the key eyewitnesses.

He told Kakamega Senior Principal Magistrate Hazel Wandere that they are yet to conduct a postmortem test for the deceased to establish the actual cause of death and ascertain his identity saying the fingerprints have been submitted to the National Registration Bureau.

The deceased is said to have been a notorious thief and had stolen the items from Lisecho.

The documents tendered in court indicate that the deceased was in the company of another person who was arrested while trying to sell the battery at a nearby mechanic shop.

He was rescued by officers from Shinyalu Police Station who were patrolling the area, but the deceased was accosted at his house with the chicken.

 “The suspects were arrested on July 28 after the police traced the first suspect captured in the video cutting the deceased while a crowd is cheering him. We are yet to trace eyewitnesses and thus we pray that the court may grant us 15 days to conclude the investigations,” said PC Athmani.

He maintained that if released, the four are likely to interfere with witnesses and the evidence already gathered.

The magistrate noted that the matter was of high public interest and that the suspects are likely to abscond court attendance if released.

“I have considered the application by the investigating officer together with the supporting affidavit. I am inclined to allow the same and direct that the four be remanded at Shinyalu Police Station awaiting the conclusion of the innvestigations,” said Ms Wandere.

The matter will be mentioned on August 13.