Man allegedly hacks wife to death over 3kg groundnuts in Baringo

By Robert Kiplagat

Baringo, Kenya: Police in Kabarnet, Baringo County are holding a 33-year old man for allegedly hacking his wife to death for denying him opportunity to sell groundnuts to buy alcohol.

Residents say they heard commotions in the man’s house only to find the wife lying naked in a pool of blood with several cuts on her body after the incident.

According to the locals, the man is said to have arrived at his house drunk at around 6pm in the evening and demanded for the groundnuts (3kg) and when the wife denied him, he allegedly descended on her killing her on the spot.

“The man is a habitual drunkard and when drunk, he likes picking fights with people and quarreling with wife and on this evening, we heard arguments then a little commotion and then it went silent,” said a neighbour.

He said the villagers were alerted by the passers-by who saw the body of the suspect’s 22-year old wife and their four-month baby who was crying beside it and could not find the man.

The man later surrendered himself to the Area Chief Samuel Cherutich.

“He came to my house and told me to arrest him for he had ‘finished’ her and led us to the scene and where we confirmed what he was referring to and that is when I informed the police who arrested him,” said Cherutich.

Baringo OCPD Charles Musewe confirmed the incident saying that police are still investigating the incident and will soon be arraigned in court and be charged with murder.

“We received the information that the man had allegedly hacked his wife to death following a row over 3kg groundnuts worth Sh180 and we are holding the man for investigations and will be charged with murder once investigations are through,” said Musewe.

The body of the deceased was moved to Kabarnet District Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem examination.