This archive report was first published on 18 May 2020.
On Saturday night, James Kifo Muruiki returned home from Nairobi, where travel into and out of the city is currently prohibited due to COVID-19 restrictions.
According to a police report, Muruiki ordered his wife Charity Wairimu to shift from their home, fearing arrest by police for breaking cessation rules.
However, instead of leaving, Muruiki allegedly took his wife to River Kathitha, where he subjected her to a brutal and inhumane act of sexual assault.
‘She resisted but started beating her while threatening to kill her with a knife he was holding,’ the report said.
Despite her resistance, Muruiki forced his wife to remove her clothes and then sprayed pepper, salt, and superglue into her vagina, using a knife to push the superglue inside.
He also sealed off her mouth and ears with a mixture of superglue and sand before running away, leaving her for dead.
The woman managed to walk to the police station, where she was rushed to the Marimanti Sub-county hospital in Tharaka Nithi County.
Tharaka South Police Commander Kiprop Rutto confirmed that they are pursuing the suspect, who is a known criminal in the area.
“We are looking for the suspect so that he can be charged with sexual assault,” he said.
