This archive report was first published on 17 July 2019.
On Tuesday, police in Nambale, Busia County, apprehended Pascal Omusungu, 51, for assaulting his wife, Jackline Kerubo, 39, in a dispute over vegetables.
The incident occurred on Sunday at around 11pm, leaving Ms Kerubo with permanent scars on her mouth and ear.
According to Nambale Sub-county Police Commander Robert Ndambiri, Mr Omusungu was arrested while harvesting sugarcane at St Mary's.
"We are holding the suspect at the Nambale Police Station cells. He will be taken to Busia court tomorrow (Wednesday)," Mr Ndambiri told journalists.
Ms Kerubo was reluctant to record a statement fearing her husband's imprisonment, but she eventually did after being convinced.
Ms Kerubo stated that her husband scolded her for giving vegetables to her neighbor, leading to a physical altercation.
"After he realised that I had [done that], he followed me to the house and started throwing blows at me. I fell down and became unconscious," she said.
"He took advantage of my state and bit off my lower lip and left ear."
"After he realised that I had [done that], he followed me to the house and started throwing blows at me. I fell down and became unconscious," she said. "He took advantage of my state and bit off my lower lip and left ear." — Jackline Kerubo
Ms Kerubo's eight-year-old son rescued her by hitting the man with a spade as he strangled her.
Good Samaritans took Ms Kerubo to Nambale Health Centre, where she was admitted.
The incident sparked outrage, with many demanding action against Mr Omusungu.
"We want legal action taken so that the woman gets justice," said Evelyne Achieng, a trader at Busia market.
The incident occurred just a day after rights defenders expressed concern over an surge of cases of gender-based violence in the Busia.
According to Kenya Works Coordinator Carolyne Wanjiru, the battering of women accounted for 82.7 per cent of the cases reported in Busia.
Ms Wanjiru noted that among the 47 counties, Busia leads in economic violence and is fourth in early marriages.
