This archive report was first published on 13 July 2021.
On July 13, 2021, a tragic incident unfolded in Kibwezi, Makueni County, where a 25-year-old man, Bedan Kinyumu, stabbed his wife, Caroline Mwende, 23, to death using a kitchen knife.
According to the police report, the couple had been experiencing domestic disputes over the custody of their two children, with the man accusing his wife of being lax in providing for them.
Area Assistant Chief Joshua Kitavi Musyoka revealed that the couple had been quarreling over who should take up the custody of their children, with the man being left to care for them.
"The deceased lured his wife to meet him for reconciliation and in the process, he attacked her while armed with a sharp object stabbing her several times on her body inflicting her with serious injuries," the police report stated.
After stabbing his wife, Bedan Kinyumu then stabbed himself twice on the chest and ingested poison, leading to his death while being rushed to Kibwezi Sub County Hospital.
The incident attracted a large crowd of villagers who rushed the victims to hospital, but unfortunately, the man succumbed to his injuries, while his wife was admitted in critical condition at Kibwezi AMREF Sub County Hospital and later transferred to Makueni level 4 referral hospital.
"This is a big blow not only to the families and the community but also to the two bereaved children who will now face hard times and probably mental trauma," Area Assistant Chief Joshua Kitavi Musyoka said.
