This archive report was first published on 19 October 2019.
On Friday, a 35-year-old man in West Pokot County was arrested by police after cutting off his wife's right hand.
According to Pokot Central sub-county police commander Bamfort Tsurwa, the suspect, John Nyalangole, attacked his 30-year-old wife, Lilian Chepyatich, at their home in Runo village at around midday.
Tsurwa said Nyalangole, who is suspected to be mentally ill, was armed with a bow, arrows, and a sharp panga, and had aimed the panga at his wife's head, but fortunately, she raised her hands, and the panga landed on her right hand.
He added that all five fingers were completely detached from her right hand.
During the incident, Tsurwa said the three children of the suspect were at school, and the suspect seemed to have been prepared to kill all the members of his family.
“According to some neighbours, it seems like the man had a motive of wiping out his family members. The man had prepared to attack the woman. He first slashed his one goat into pieces until it died. The panga was sharpened,” Tsurwa said.
The suspect is being held at Kapenguria police station and will be charged in court on Tuesday for causing grievous harm.
He added that the woman was rescued by neighbours and police officers who were on their way to the station from Masol ground on parade to practice for Mashujaa Day celebrations.
“The police officers who were coming from Masol ground on parade to practice for Mashujaa day celebration upon reaching Runo primary school they heard people shouting for help and upon stopping to check they found the suspect being beaten by the angry crowd,” Tsurwa said.
“The crowd landed on the suspect, fortunately the police officers came in to rescue the suspect who was still armed with the arrow, bow and panga. He injured some of the police officers during the rescue mission” he said.
