Man accused of beating wife to death in Nairobi

A man in Nairobi’s Kahawa Sukari Estate was on Thursday arrested for allegedly beating up and killing his wife during a domestic quarrel.

Laiko Osuri is said to have admitted to beating up Beryl Ouma but stated that he had no idea it would lead to her death.

According to neighbours, screams were heard from the house the two resided in but they were reluctant to intervene upon learning that it was a domestic argument.

“There was a lady who was screaming from that house but we could not do anything. When I asked a friend what was happening, he told me it was a domestic fight and I thought it was a normal thing,” said a neighbour only identified as Walter.

Daniel, another neighbor, noted that people went to rescue the lady but she assured them that she would resolve the issue with her husband and they left. After some time, everything went silent.

Police have partly blamed the neighbours for not acting in good time as they would have saved the deceased from the wrath of her husband.

According to Beryl’s father Douglas Ouma, the deceased had sent him two messages on Wednesday night but he was asleep.

Upon seeing the third message, he immediately called back but no one picked.

A few minutes later, Osuri called him saying they had fought.

Initial reports indicated that Beryl had been taken to the nearby Neema Hospital for treatment but a doctor’s report revealed that she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Preliminary investigations did not show any signs of physical injuries but police are still pursuing the matter.

Ruiru OCPD James Ngetich said that Osuri confessed to using a belt to assault his wife and urged neighbours to respond quickly but cautiously whenever they hear screams in their vicinity.