Man kills wife, strangles two children to death in domestic dispute

BY JOB WERU and KENAN Miruka

A man strangled his two children before killing his wife and dumping her body in the Aberdare Forest.

Yesterday, residents were yet to come to terms with the Sunday night incident at Ngomongo village, Endarasha town in Nyeri.

Relatives said the body of the woman, identified as Jane Wagaki, was recovered later in the day. Those of her children, Scholastica Wairimu, 15, and Martin Mureithi, 3, had been found in the house earlier.

Mr Simon Kinyua, Wagaki’s father, said the man later presented himself at Ndaragwa Police Station and was arrested. The shaken Kinyua said Mureithi’s body was in a gunny bag, while it was feared the suspect defiled Wairimu before killing her.

"The body was half naked, and we suspect he defiled the girl before strangling her," said a neighbour, Martha Waithiegeni.

Ms Waithiegeni said the suspect, quarrelled with his wife on Sunday night.

Nyeri OCPD Kirunya Limbitu said the suspect was being held at Mweiga Police Station.

Elsewhere, a 60-year-old woman was lynched on Tuesday night at Bonyansiaga village, Nyamache District, over claims of practicing witchcraft.

The woman allegedly bewitched a councillor, James Omboga of Nyamache Town Council, who died two weeks ago.

The incident occurred shortly after the body of the councillor was removed from the mortuary for burial yesterday at his farm.

The deceased’s husband and their children watched helplessly as angry villagers set upon the suspect with weapons before torching their family house.

The villagers claimed the suspect had threatened the councillor over a land dispute and when the latter died, they were convinced she had a hand in the death.

Also injured during the incident were two of the suspect’s children who were admitted to Nyamache District Hospital in serious condition.

Gucha Deputy OCPD Ranson Lolmodoni said investigation had been launched into the incident, adding those involved would be arrested.