Man allegedly attacked by wife gets new lease of life

By Job Weru

Nyeri, Kenya: One year after he was allegedly attacked by his wife, Simon Kiguta has a reason to smile.

Kiguta, 41, has received a donation of a Sh70, 000 power saw that will help him start his life afresh.

He was happy on Monday as he received the power saw, which he committed to utilise to make a living for himself, his two children and elderly father.

Kiguta made headlines last year after he was disfigured in a night attack, in which he blamed his former wife, Julia Wairimu, who was early this year acquitted by a Mukurweini court for lack of evidence.

The panga cuts are still evident on his face.

During the presentation, Kiguta caused a lengthy laughter when he told Ahadi Kenya Trust officials, led by CEO, Stanley Kamau that he was not battered by his wife, and was instead ambushed.

“Mimi husema kuwa sikupigwa, nilijifichio, juu mimi siwezi pigwa na mwanamke. Hata wewe ukiwa umelala unaweza jifichio hata uuawe,” (I always insist that I was not battered. I was ambushed, since I believe a woman cannot beat me. Anybody can be ambushed and even get killed) he said.

Speaking while receiving the power saw at his Muthambi village home in Mukurweini, Kiguta said he was leading a normal life, even after the February 2012 attack.

There was a light moment when Kiguta told journalists that he hardly approaches or even talks to women, adding that he will take longer before marrying.

“I no longer talk to these people (women). It will take some time before I marry, since I first of all intend to make a good financial base and I bring up my children before I make such a decision,” he said.

He said he needs few years to recover from the trauma and gather enough resources and energy to start a family again.

Kamau, who was accompanied by the Trust Programme Director Joseph Maathai handed Kiguta the machine, as a way of renewing his life.

“We strongly believe that lack of empowerment and source of income is to blame for rising cases of husband battery.

Poverty is also to blame for many evils happening in the society, as well as high prevalence of jigger infestation and ill health,” said Kamau.

Kamau said the decision to give Kiguta a power saw was meant to give him morale to go have a normal life, since he will be able to seek casual jobs and make a living for himself.

The CEO observed that Ahadi Kenya was committed to eradicate jiggers and empower members of the public through empowering them.