Angry mourning members of a family in Chesubet village in Marakwet West torched down 27 houses before taking away 30 herds of cattle among other domestic animals in retaliation of their killed relative.
Their deceased is said to have picked a fight with a friend in a drinking den when he was hit hard in the head with firewood.
"When the argument got heightened, Kemboi picked a firewood and hit Saina on the head injuring him badly. He was rushed to Iten County referral hospital where he succumbed to his injuries Wednesday," John Mwinzi, Elgeyo-Marakwet police boss was quoted by Daily Nation.
News of Elias Saina's death angered his family and they decided to take action by their hands claiming police had assumed their calls for justice.
It was then that they torched down the houses as helpless neighbours watched.
"We watched helplessly as members of the Titoket family wreaked havoc on the Kamaina family. Members of the public could not help as the attackers were armed with all manner of crude weapons," said Mr Jeremiah Kemboi, a neighbour.
The suspect's and his relatives were fortunate as they had earlier gone into hiding.
A land cruiser car and a posho mill was burnt in one of the homesteads.