By JOHN MJAU
A man killed his wife in cold blood before committing suicide at Kiamakoru village in Imenti Central District following an alleged land dispute.
Area OCPD Silvester Githungo said Moses Maugu and his wife Jane Kanugu had disagreed on whether to sell part of the family land or not.
“The wife refused to agree to sale of the land despite pleas from her husband who left the matter to rest before turning against her in the night,” said the OCPD.
Mr Githungo said Maugu murdered his wife by hitting her with a blunt object on the head as the couple slept.
The man then committed suicide by hanging himself with a rope in the same house on the fateful night.
“Their bodies were discovered the following morning by their son Jamlick Gikunda, who sleeps in a separate room. He informed the police,” said Githungo.
The woman’s body was discovered lying in a pool of blood in their matrimonial bed, while the husband’s was dangling from a rope tied to the roof.
The couple’s children and neighbours were forced to break the door, which was locked from inside, after becoming suspicious that the couple had overslept.
The police boss said investigation into the incident had been launched.
“I urge residents to embrace dialogue to resolve outstanding disputes instead of murdering innocent people or committing suicide because it means more problems for their offspring,” said the OCPD.
The bodies were removed to Meru Level Five Hospital mortuary for post-mortem analysis.
Mean while, 6,000 squatters in Timau division in Buuri District are set to get water after a charitable organisation donated pipes, water taps and construction materials worth Sh500,000.
The managing director of Kawira Mwangaza Foundation, Ms Faith Kawira Mwangaza said the materials will be used to jump start Magariba water project, which stalled about 15 years ago due to lack of funds.