Demons misled me to kill my wife, man tells police

Homa Bay, Kenya: A man accused of killing his wife has surrendered himself to the police after hiding for four days.

Lawrence Otieno Owich presented himself to Ndhiwa Police Station in Homa Bay on Tuesday evening and pleaded for forgiveness.

Police had been looking for the 29-year-old since Saturday night when he allegedly killed his 22-year-old wife Janet Otieno at Kuoyo Village, Ndhiwa sub-county.

Mr Owich said he was misled by demons to kill his wife.

"The suspect has said he deserves forgiveness because he loved his wife but he was misled by the devil to kill her," said Ndhiwa OCPD Nixon Makokha.

Reports indicate Janet was beaten by her husband with blunt objects and died on the spot.

Mr Makokha said the suspect had been detained and would undergo a mental evaluation.

Eyewitnesses said Owich suspected his wife had been involved in an extramarital relationship.

Trouble started on Friday evening when Janet left home for her Roho Israel Holy Spirit Church at Kabondo village in the same sub-county, a few kilometres away from her home, where she spent the night praying.

The mother of two went returned home on Saturday evening and went to the nearby pond to drew water for preparing supper.

According to village elder Okoko Odiere, Janet was jovial when she came back from church.

"Neighbours had noticed Janet preparing supper and nobody thought anything bad would happen. No one thought death could occur," said Mr Odiere.

At that time, her husband, who had just left the field where he was herding his livestock, was within the compound.

Odiere said he was called a few hours later and informed that Janet was unconscious after being beaten by her husband.

Sources said the man suspected his wife had taken advantage of the opportunity to go to church to engage in an extramarital affair.