Police at the scene of the crime in Mbeere South, Embu County. [Murithi Mugo, Standard]

Police in Mbeere South, Embu County, are holding two brothers aged 19 and 30 for allegedly killing their mother's alleged lover, Peter Mwangi, in Itherembu village, Mariari location.

Mbeere South Police Commander Harrison Njuguna said DCI officers from Kiritiri Police Station have launched investigations to unravel the mystery leading to the death of the 45-year-old man.

"We are holding the two brothers and will seek permission from the Siakago law courts to hold them further as we pursue more information that will lead to a conclusive investigation," said Njuguna.

Villagers comb the homestead where Peter Mwangi, 45, was killed in Itherembu village, Mbeere South. [Murithi Mugo, Standard]

Njuguna said one of the brothers, David Kinyua, 30, surrendered to the police in Kiritiri (20km from the homestead) while the other, Kelvin Macharia (19), was found asleep at his home and apprehended by the area chief and villagers.

The commander said police officers took the body of the deceased to Embu Level 5 Hospital mortuary where a postmortem will be carried out in aid of further investigations.

According to a villager privy to the matter, the two brothers sought to chase away Mwangi, who had checked in at their mother's house on Sunday night for a sleepover, to no avail.

"The brothers asked the man to leave but he [Mwangi] resisted and was ready for a fight, but, unfortunately, was overpowered by the two well-built brothers who used pieces of firewood to hit him several times", said the villager.

A section of the homestead in Itherembu village, Mbeere South. [Murithi Mugo, Standard]

The villager said the fight ensued after the deceased confronted the two insisting on staying overnight with their mother. "Mwangi told them that he was there to stay since they were lovers".

The brothers are said to have insisted that only their father is allowed to spend the night with their mother.

The woman reportedly lives at the matrimonial home after her husband relocated to another property within Kiambere Ward over alleged marital differences.