Woman gets 15 years for burning husband with hot water

By Philip Muasya

KITUI, KENYA: A woman who scalded her husband with hot water after a domestic quarrel was on Friday jailed for 15 years by a Mwingi court. Mercy Katunge from Thokoa village, Migwani District in Kitui County was convicted by resident magistrate Irene Gichobi for the offence committed on April 6 this year.

The court heard that on the material day, Katunge’s husband Pius Mulwa had visited his estranged wife at her parents’ home where she had gone following a family disagreement.

He had gone to reconcile with his wife and return her to their matrimonial home, the court was told. When Mulwa arrived at her in-law’s homestead, they held a brief discussion but shortly a bitter quarrel erupted between him and his wife.

It is then that Mulwa decided to go back to his place. It was while he was walking out of the compound that his wife dashed to the kitchen where she scooped a sufuria with boiling water from the fireplace and poured its contents on her husband.

He sustained severe burns on the neck, back and buttocks. Mulwa was rescued by villagers who rushed him to Migwani Sub District Hospital where he was treated before being referred to Mwingi District Hospital.

Katunge told the magistrate that she acted out of anger saying her husband was a batterer. However the magistrate described her actions as beastly noting that she needed a severe punishment.