Woman who lived with boyfriend's body for three days arrested

The police on Tuesday arrested a woman in connection with the death of a Pwani University student in Uasin Gishu County.

The 26-year-old woman identified by police as Jane Wairimu is suspected to have killed David Wairire, 23, in Kipkenyo, Kapseret Constituency on Saturday night.

Police officers say the suspect then stayed with the lifeless body of the man until Tuesday 26 October when neighbours discovered the student had died.

Residents said the duo have been living as a couple for nearly six months.

Body discovered in the house couple shared

Wairimu startled neighbours after she claimed that thugs attacked her and Wairire on Saturday night, but the matter was not reported until Tuesday when the university student’s body was discovered in the same house the couple have been living in.

According to the suspect, Wairire lost consciousness after the alleged Saturday night attack at a nearby Kipkaren Trading Centre.

Her explanation regarding the circumstances of her boyfriend's death and why she did not report the attack since Saturday night is what raised eyebrows. Neighbours have accused her of killing the university student.

Body found with stab wounds

Wairire's body had its hands tied, a stab wound in the stomach and a bruise on the face. The police suspect it to be a case of murder.

The house is part of rental houses he inherited from his late father, and he has been collecting rent, tenants said.

His uncle Moffat Muriuki said Wairire was the only child of his late parents and has been managing the estate his father left behind.

Mr Muriuki said the late Wairire had been living with the suspect for the last five months and the two had not been quarrelling.

“I last met him on Thursday last week, and we have not talked since then. I was planning to attend a burial in the neighbourhood when I was called by Wairire’s neighbour that my nephew was dead,” Muriuki said.

He added: “I don’t know much about the character of the young woman he has been living in his late father’s rental property but neighbours say they have been living peacefully.”

He wondered why the woman failed to report the death and stayed with the corpse for four days.

Missing since Saturday

James Lugano, a next-door neighbour, said he also became suspicious after he failed to see Wairire for several days.

“I met his girlfriend in the morning and I asked her how Wairire was doing, and she told me that they were attacked on Saturday evening and that he has been unconscious since then. I was shocked and asked to see him. Upon entering the house, I found him lying lifeless covered with a blanket from the chest down,” Lugano narrated.

He continued: “I doubted whether he was alive and I moved out and luckily some traffic police officers on patrol were driving near the house. I requested for help and immediately they entered the house, and they told me that my neighbour was already dead.”

Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Ali Gitonga said both Wairimu and the deceased had bruises on the bodies, an indication that the couple may have fought.

Mr Gitonga said the suspect is being held at the Langas Police Station for interrogation.

“We suspect that the young man died two days before the body was discovered.

Investigations are ongoing and the body has been taken to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital for autopsy,” the police boss said.