A Dandora businessman is nursing serious injuries after he was attacked and bitten on the ear by a close friend in a violent outburst reportedly triggered by jealousy over money.
Samuel Musau Kioko, who deals in second-hand tyres, suffered a swollen eye and a partially severed ear after he was ambushed and assaulted by Stephene Mwangi Wanjohi on May 17 at Dandora Phase 2 in Njiru Sub-county, Nairobi.
According to police reports presented in court, the altercation was sparked by a money-keeping arrangement the two friends had maintained for months.
Kioko would sell tyres and, at the end of each business day, deposit the cash with Wanjohi, who runs a fruit kiosk nearby.
On the eve of the incident, Kioko went to drop his daily earnings as usual but found Wanjohi absent. He instead handed over Sh18,000 to Wanjohi’s wife, informing her that he would collect the money the following morning.
Trouble began the next day when Kioko returned to collect his cash and found both Wanjohi and his wife at the kiosk. The wife handed over the money without hesitation, but moments after Kioko walked away, things took a dark turn.
Without warning, Wanjohi picked up a piece of wood and struck Kioko from behind, landing a heavy blow on his left eye. As Kioko screamed for help, Wanjohi pounced on him and bit off a chunk of his ear in full view of stunned bystanders.
Passersby rushed to his aid, pulling Wanjohi away before the situation worsened.
The accused, who appeared to be emotionally agitated, reportedly yelled at Kioko, accusing him of trying to impress his wife by flaunting how much money he made daily.
Kioko was rushed to a nearby hospital. The injury left his eyeball bloodshot.
Wanjohi was later arrested and arraigned before Senior Principal Magistrate Paul Rotich at the Makadara Law Courts, where he was charged with causing grievous bodily harm.
He denied the charge and was released on a cash bail of Sh100,000. The case will be mentioned in July.
