Police in Kitui South are searching for a 43-year-old man accused of killing his father in a brutal machete attack under unclear circumstances on Easter Sunday.

Kibwea Location Chief, Pius Kilunda, said the suspect allegedly ambushed his father at their home around 1 pm, delivering a fatal slash to his neck with a sharp panga.

"It’s still unclear what prompted Musyoka to take his father’s life so violently, especially since they were alone in the house at the time. The rest of the family had gone to church," Chief Kilunda told the Star.

He suggested the act may have been premeditated, as the attacker seemed to have waited for the right moment when the house was empty.

"With everyone else away at Sunday service, the elderly man was left defenseless and had no one around to help him," Kilunda added.

He further revealed that the killing appeared to have been carried out with a single, fatal strike.

"With a single blow to the neck, the suspect left his father lifeless, lying in a pool of blood before fleeing the scene," Chief Kilunda recounted.

The motive behind the attack remains a mystery, as no one witnessed the incident, and the suspect is currently on the run.

"There was no one around to see what happened, and the reason behind the gruesome act is still unknown," the chief told reporters on Monday.

The case was reported to Mutomo Police Station, and the body was moved to the Mutomo Level IV Hospital mortuary as officers began a manhunt for the suspect.

Chief Kilunda urged locals to embrace non-violent means of resolving disputes.

"I encourage anyone facing conflict to pursue peaceful solutions rather than turning to violence," he said.

He also voiced concern about the rise in drug and alcohol abuse among youth in the region, suggesting it may be fueling irrational and aggressive behavior.

"There is an alarming rise in the consumption of hard drugs and substances, which often leads to bloody attacks like this," Chief Kilunda warned.