This archive report was first published on 12 December 2019.
On Wednesday evening, a man allegedly killed his wife in Karatina town, Nyeri County, after a suspected domestic feud. He then tried to set her body on fire before fleeing the scene.
The body of the woman, identified as Grace Nyambura, a mother of two, was found lying on a bed with bedding partially burnt in a one-roomed rental house at Jamaica estate at around 4:30 pm on the same day.
When the police arrived at the scene, they found a fresh stab wound on the woman's head and blood-stained clothes and bedding strewn around the room.
Residents said they were attracted by smoke billowing from the room and upon breaking the door, which was locked from outside, they were shocked when they found the lifeless body of the woman.
They then called firefighters from Karatina who arrived in time and put out the fire.
The assailant, Simon Nderitu, is currently on the run.
According to the landlady, Esther Nyambura Wachira, the couple rented the house two months ago. Neighbours said they had been engaging in constant quarrels.
Ms Wachira said she always knew the couple as husband and wife, although she was not aware of any domestic issues.
However, other neighbours claimed the couple had constant quarrels, sometimes leading to fights.
“On Tuesday, the grandmother of the two children came and took them away. We suspect she wanted to take them to a safe place following the bad blood between the husband and wife. It's unfortunate it has ended this way,” said a visibly shaken neighbour who asked not to be named.
By 6 pm, Mathira East Police Boss James Barasa and Chief Detective Jackson Muriuki were still at the scene trying to gather evidence.
Mr Barasa said the matter is being treated as murder.
