Woman, 76, in hospital after grisly attack by son

Residents of Mutinu Village Kirinyaga County at the scene of the smouldering house of Stephen Mwangi accused of viciously attacking his mother with a machete over land dispute yesterday. (PHOTO: MUNENE KAMAU/ STANDARD)

A grandmother is fighting for her life in hospital after she was attacked with a machete by her son.

Mary Muthoni, 76, was attacked without warning as she tethered her goats within the homestead shortly before midday.

An eye-witness said the assailant crept behind the unsuspecting woman and slashed her with the sharp weapon several times.

She she fell to the ground, unconscious.

"My grandmother had not quarrelled with his son. My uncle without any provocation set upon her with a sharp panga and cut her in the back, severed her three fingers before slashing her face with the weapon," said Denis Mwangi.

The boy said the assailant, his uncle, then picked up the three fingers he had chopped off and walked away as neighbour rushed to the scene to answer the distress call.

The assailant escaped the wrath of the irate residents by a whisker.

He managed to run into the compound of a nearby police post where he was immediately arrested and locked in.

The enraged residents later vented their anger on his house, which they set on fire and also slashed his banana plantation.

The grandmother was rushed to the Kerugoya level five hospital and admitted in critical condition.

Kirinyaga West Police Boss Gasper Makau said the assailant has a criminal history, having killed his brother 15 years ago.

"We have established that after hacking to death his brother, his case was reduced to manslaughter and he only served seven years jail," he said.

Makau said investigations had been launched to establish what might have caused the attack.