Police in Kipkelion, Kericho County, are detaining a man who allegedly beat his son to death for drinking too much and refusing to return to university to resume his studies.

The suspect, popularly known as Kakamega, is said to have assaulted his son, a fourth-year student at Karatina University, for imbibing alcohol instead of returning to the institution which was reopened early this month.

Area residents said the man arrived home and found the boy drunk, an act which reportedly infuriated him.

He allegedly confronted his son seeking to know why he was yet to report back to the university yet he had sold his land and other family resources to fund his education.

After a brief altercation, the enraged father grabbed a piece of wood, wrestled his son to the ground and started beating and inflicting serious injuries on him.

The man's wife was not at home when the incident happened as she had attended the funeral of her relative in Nandi County.

Villagers who heard the distress calls rushed to the homestead and rescued the boy from the angry father baying for his blood.

They rushed him to Fort Ternan sub-county hospital for first aid before he was transferred to Kericho County Referral Hospital where he succumbed to the injuries while undergoing treatment.

The suspect was arrested and is currently being held at Kipkelion Police Station awaiting arraignment after investigations are concluded.