My husband cut off my hand, I want justice

Mrs. Eunice Jepkemboi at the Standard Grpoup offices in Eldoret.Her Husband Mr. Daniel Kirwa Mutai of nine years severed her right hand, which has left him vulnerable and unable to fend for herself and her two children. Her husband only served three months in prison for the attack. She now wants the case appealed for her to get Justice. Photo by ELIUD KIPSANG.

When Eunice Chepkemboi sought refuge at her parents’ home two years ago, she thought she was safe from her husband, Daniel Kirwa, who was baying for her blood. That was however, not the case.

Her Story

The day Kirwa showed up at our home in Kosoywo, Nandi County armed with sharpened machete, I knew my life was over.

In a murderous rage, my husband of eight years and father to my two children went on a ‘chopping spree’ that saw me lose my right hand and sustain head injuries.

I was rescued by family members and neighbours who rushed me to Nandi-Hills hospital in a near dead state then was transferred to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret where doctors worked round the clock to save my life.

Kirwa was eventually arrested and to my surprise, the entire trial was conducted in my absence as I fought for my life in the hospital bed.

My input was never sought and I was never represented in court. He ended up with a ‘slap on the wrist’ after he was ordered to pay a fine of Sh100,000 or face a sentence of six months in prison for ‘causing grievous harm to his wife’.

He should have faced an attempted murder charge.

Kirwa chose prison and served for only three months before he was released.

I turned to the civil courts where I filed a suit against him for cutting off my hand and rendering me disabled. The court ordered Kirwa to pay me Sh600,000 in damages. However to date, my husband has chosen to ignore court orders, I am yet to receive the money, two years after his release.

Further, I and my two children have since been rendered homeless because Kirwa took over our family property after he came out of prison.

I need justice to be done so that I can stop living in fear and get my dues so I can fend for my children.