Villagers in Ramba Location, Homa Bay County are still in shock after a 23-year-old man lost his mind and began threatening to rape his mother and grandmother.

The young man, only identified as Otieno, resorted to the threats after a row between him and his mother spiraled out of control.

The two have been harvesting sand together, which they sell for subsistence. But on this day, the young man sold some of the sand, made Sh6,000 and never shared the cash with his mother, prompting a war of words.

Sold sand

“I knew the quantity of the sand was worth Sh6,000. So, when I discovered he had sold it, he didn’t want me to ask for the money. That’s how the fight began,” said the widow, surnamed Adhiambo.

“The small matter exploded, with the boy telling me to leave the home and go back to my place of birth. When my mother-in-law tried to intervene, the boy grew wild and threatened to beat and rape both of us,” the mother said.

A few minutes later, the commotion in the home attracted the attention of Ramba chief, Joseph Ndege who arrested Ronney.

Drug abuse

“I have received many reports that the young man has been assaulting and insulting his mother after abusing the drugs. At times, he forces his mother to provide him with food, failure to which he attacks her, threatening to kick her out of the home,” Ndege said.

The mother said the boy has been wreaking havoc in the home and it was time for him to face the law.

“He has cut down all 15 trees in my compound and sold them. We have just been persevering but we can’t tolerate him anymore,” she said.