Kering Kipkosgei, the warder who committed suicide in a suspected love triangle at Mwea G.K Prison, lived with his wife at the same facility where he had a secret affair with Sergeant Esther Muthoni Mwangi. 

Kipkosgei was raising his young family at the junior staff quarters. His wife and son, however, had travelled upcountry for Christmas holidays when Kipkoskei, the armoury at the prison, killed himself. The warder took his life following a brawl in Muthoni’s house where the woman’s ex-husband Bonface Mithamo Ngarariga arrived unannounced at the senior staff quarters. Unlike the junior staff quarters, access to senior staff quarters is not restricted.

Sources say, it was not unusual for Mithamo to visit the facility to spend time with his two kids aged seven and three years. The occasional visits were normally during the day.

Mithamo and Muthoni separated almost two years ago but the man would sometimes find time to walk into the prison to see his children. He was a driver attached to Kirinyaga East Deputy County Commissioner. According to a signal, Kipkosgei and Muthoni were having supper when Mithamo dropped by. He confronted Kipkosgei demanding to know what mission brought the warder there.

“Bonface Mithamo Ngarariga started beating Kering Kipkosgei and removed his shirt. Sergeant Esther Muthoni Mwangi, the house owner, got hold of Boniface Mithamo and escorted him outside the house,” stated the police incident report of January 4.

Kipkosgei is said to have moved to the kitchen where he drew out his Ceska pistol and shot Mithamo in the neck. In panic, he dashed out and turned the gun on himself. Both officers died while being rushed to Karira Mission Hospital.

“Kipkosgei was a common visitor at madam’s house and sometimes used to spend the night there. I blame all the three for this unfortunate incident. It was wrong for Mithamo to turn violent while it was a misjudgment for Kipkosgei to reach for the firearm. Madam is equally culpable for entertaining the two men,” said a source.

When reached for comment Muthoni, 34, declined to divulge more.
“I don’t want to talk about that matter,” she said.

Muthoni was arrested and briefly detained for grilling. Her colleagues say the officer was enlisted into the service in 2006. AP officers claimed Mithamo had persistently warned Kipkosgei to stop messing his marriage.

“It is Kipkosgei who rocked the union, despite being warned to stop the affair, he continued leading to the separation,” said the officer.