Bomet mother painfully narrates how slices of bread, milk led to son's brutal death

Even though the dust has settled, the loud silence of grief is suffocating the mother of five, now left with just memories of her son, 13, who wailed in despair, begging his father to spare his life. 

The decision by Emmanuel Kimtai, a Grade Six pupil, to have a cup of milk and a few slices of bread at his uncle’s home ended in a fatal attack. 

September 12, 2025, will forever be ingrained not just in the mind of Kimtai’s mother, Winnie Bii, but also in the minds of many who were horrified by the cruel attack by his father, Hillary Bii. 

The Grade Six candidate, was preparing to attend prayer’s day at Chebugon Primary school in Chepalungu, Bomet County, but never got a chance to. The school postponed the event in his honour. 

That evening, Kimtai’s uncle came home with bread and since Emmanuel was hungry, he took a few slices and a cup of milk. But his uncle’s wife was not amused and she reported the boy to his father. 

The enraged father caught up with him as he tried to flee and cruelly beat him up. Winnie helplessly watched as her husband beat the boy, who was begging her to save him.  

During Kimtai’s funeral, the emotional mother told mourners how milk and bread cost the life of her son. 

“Emmanuel was beaten by his father. Although I wanted to rescue him, I was scared his father would turn against me and attack me too,” she recalled. 

Winnie’s brother, who spoke to The Nairobian, said the suspect is known for frequent acts of terror at his home. 

Those who know the family say Winnie has endured many years of violence from her husband.   

Picked a panga

With the violent picture in her mind, she stood at a distance as she helplessly watched her son being attacked by his father who could hear none of his boy’s pleas to forgive him. 

“Daddy, you have hit my head and it is bleeding. Instead of killing me let me take my belongings and go,” the boy wailed. 

When his father finally let him go, the boy ran to his grandmother’s home. Later that evening, the man picked a panga and left. This worried Winnie and she grabbed her two children who were sleeping and went to her mother-in-law’s home where she found Kimtai sleeping on a chair. 

She too decided to spend the night there because she was worried that the man might turn against her at night like he had previously done. 

In the morning, the man went to his mother’s home and asked Kimtai if he was finally at the place he longed to be. “So then what are you doing here?” he roared while looking for a cane, ready to beat the visibly ill boy.

Although the boy was very ill, his grandmother did not want neighbours to know what happened.

But the area senior chief had been informed that the boy had been seriously beaten and was bedridden and he sent a boda boda rider to take the boy to Ndanai Hospital. 

The grandmother coached the boy to say that he had been injured by a broken bottle and not reveal the truth to anyone, including the doctor. While on the way the boy complained of stomach and chest pains. 

The rider revealed that the grandmother constantly reminded the boy what to tell the doctor. At the hospital, the grandmother played tricks. She did not want the boy to be interrogated by the doctor. 

At some point she lied to the rider that the doctor had examined the boy and instructed the boda boda man to take them back home but when the chief arrived they had to go back to the doctor. 

Uncertain of what the grandmother would do, the boy simply said that he had sustained injury on his left leg.

What followed was a wrong diagnosis and medications. Suffering in silence, the boy was discharged.  

Two days later, Kimtai developed breathing complications and had difficulties eating. Foam started to come out of his mouth and he was rushed back to Ndanai Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

At the Kapkatet Hospital in Kericho,  an autopsy report indicated that Emmanuel died due to lack of oxygen owing to lung congestion consistent with severe injury. 

Intense examinations revealed he suffered severe damages to his internal organs including liver and spleen and ruptured blood vessels causing bleeding in the brain. The head injuries, respiratory failure and damaged internal organs led to system shut down. 

Stab threat

Angry neighbours demanded justice. They accused the boy’s grandmother of covering up for her son. 

Villagers later frog-matched the man to a police station where he was booked. He was later presented before Sotik Law courts on a miscellaneous application pending completion of investigations. 

“The man once armed himself with a knife and threatened to stab the boy. He should be grateful we handed him to the police in good shape,” said Vincent Bore, a neighbour. 

According to Bore, neighbours have always intervened to make sure the children go to school.

Apprehensive of what the future holds for their daughter, Winnie’s family decided to take her back.  

The boy was buried at his mother’s home in Chebunyo on September 23. 

The send-off ceremony was attended by hundreds of residents and leaders who condemned the killing and called on the authorities to expedite the probe and ensure justice for the boy.