This archive report was first published on 29 June 2020.
On June 29, 2020, a tragic event shook the town of Naivasha. A mother, Beatrice Mwende Kimotho, 42, wrote a letter to her eldest son, explaining why she had killed their four children.
According to the letter, Ms. Kimotho's frustrations began in April when she became unable to pay her house rent. She was also struggling to settle a Sh. 1,400 electricity bill.
Ms. Kimotho's letter also revealed a deep sense of betrayal. She accused her boyfriend of deceiving her, saying, 'I loved him dearly. Have nothing to do with him…He pretended to be what he is not.'
She went on to describe her former lover as evil, claiming he was involved with a sugar mummy and that his property belonged to the woman.
Ms. Kimotho's letter also showed a desperate attempt to provide for her children's future. She wrote, 'If only I had a stable job, I would have not killed your siblings.'
She also made arrangements for her children's burial, noting that she had already bought new outfits for them to be buried in.