The police boss said: 'After failing to reach the man through the window, he ran to another compound, but the female target saw him and ran into her house screaming.
It was only after neighbours ran in the direction of the screams that the assailant dropped his hit list and ran away, leaving behind a grieving and tense village.
The late Kamau's mother, Mrs Lillian Muthoni, said she did not understand why her son was targeted. 'All I know is that they were drinking buddies and maybe differences in the pub made him a target. I really don't know and I'm sad,' she said.
The late Mahiu's brother, Mr Stephen Maina, said they were both orphaned after their parents died in 2008 'and the only confidant I had in life is now the slain sibling'.
Mr Joseph Kigera recalled an incident in 2001 when the suspect was behind a series of panga cuts on neighbours and drank their blood, saying he did it to 'avoid being bewitched by them'.
Residents said they were now living in fear and urged police to move quickly to arrest the man, who is believed to be hiding in nearby caves.
'We are afraid he might sneak back and kill more people. Even those who are not on his list are afraid because he might replace the names with new ones. We feel like candidates for death,' said Mr Reuben Ndara.
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