Man lynched after attacking former wife

Meru, Kenya: Two sisters are fighting for their lives at the Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital after they were attacked by man who used to be married to one of them, before he was stoned to death by a mob that responded to their distress call.

The incident left a usually quiet Muruugi village in Central Imenti in utter shock and disbelief.

Speaking from their hospital beds, Caroline Kanana and Glory Makena told how the deceased, Silas Gituma, a former husband to Makena found them in a tea field and assaulted them with a panga.

“He stood for a moment where we where plucking tea leaves and after a brief conversation with my sister Makena, he removed a machete from his jacket and started to cut her on the head,” Kanana said in tears.

Deep cuts

Kanana rushed to save her sister, and the assailant turned on her, inflicting deep cuts on her head and right hand.

Makena, who had difficulties speaking due to severe pain from the deep cuts explained what happened.

“Last year, he came home and demanded I return the Sh300 he had given me.

I borrowed the money and gave him, but he continued to threaten me saying he would kill me and our son before committing suicide,” Makena said.

Mutuma lived in Chaaria, more than 15km away.

She reported the threats to the area chief who talked to them but they could not reconcile.

After the attack, Gituma attempted to commit suicide by taking an unidentified poisonous substance he was carrying in his pocket, but he was cornered by a mob that stoned him to death.

Kithirune Location Acting Chief George Matthew said Gituma was a peaceful man even though he had some family problems.

“I talked to them last year. We never thought it would get this far,” he said.