This archive report was first published on 3 September 2021.
On August 23, a violent domestic dispute in Raila slums, Nairobi, escalated into a neighbourly dispute, leaving one man facing charges of malicious damage to property.
Clinton Laty Tete, accused of destroying two roofing iron sheets belonging to Karara Ayuma's house, is also accused of assaulting his wife Mary Awinja and threatening to kill her on the same date.
According to reports, Ayuma, 65, intervened in the dispute between Tete and his wife, but was wrestled to the ground. Angered by her action, Tete left the scene, threatening to return with a weapon and hack anyone he would find.
He allegedly scaled Ayuma's house to the roof to break in, prompting neighbours to intervene and plead with him to leave her alone.
Tete was arrested within the slum and denied all the charges. He claimed to have resolved his dispute with his wife and that she was willing to withdraw the case.
However, the senior resident magistrate, Renee Kitangwa, was cautious, citing the increasing cases of domestic violence and the seriousness of the death threats.
Kitangwa gave Tete an option of remaining in police custody until Friday for his wife to confirm to the court about their claimed reconciliation, which he rejected.
He was eventually released on a Sh200,000 bond with a surety and alternative cash bail of Sh100,000.
