A court yesterday granted police eight days to hold a man who allegedly stabbed his 20-year-old lover, a third year student at Pwani University.
Kilifi Senior Principal Magistrate Justus Kituku allowed the State to detain Nicholas Koech, 25, to enable detectives examine his mental state and investigate his telephone conversations prior to the attack on Sunday morning.
Naomi Chepkemoi, who is studying Public Health at Pwani University, was allegedly stabbed by Koech at her house in Mkwajuni village in the outskirts of Kilifi town.
Koech is said to have travelled to Kilifi from Bomet.
Chepkemoi was stabbed with a knife in the neck, breast and back after the pair apparently argued over their child.
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Doctors said she is now out of danger but will remain under observation for some time.
Koech is said to have arrived in Kilifi on Sunday morning after travelling from Bomet on Saturday, with a stopover in Nairobi.
Kituku declined the State's prayer to hold the suspect for ten days. It had requested ten days to interview the suspect and the victim, his parents and the parents of his girlfriend whom he allegedly called before the incident.
The victim is now out of danger, according to medics.
Kituku said this investigation, including a probe on the telecommunication, can be done within eight days.
Mob justice
The case will be mentioned on Tuesday, April 23.
Yesterday, Koech appeared in court with a bandage on his right hand from injuries inflicted by a mob after the attack.
He reportedly locked himself in his girlfriend's house after stabbing her, fearing a beating from locals.
Chepkemoi sent a text to a classmate informing him she had been stabbed.
Reports indicate police arrived before the crowd could deliver deadly blows to Koech. He was treated at a local hospital and before being placed in police custody.
The parents of both Koech and Chepkemoi hail from Bomet County.
Koech demanded that the court allows him to see his daughter.
Speaking to The Standard some hours before he was taken to court, Koech blamed Chepkemoi’s family for allegedly denying him his rights to see and take care of his child.
“Naomi is my wife and I love her very much. We started dating back in 2016 when I was at Kenyatta University,” said Kikoech.
