Bomet man kills wife, attempts suicide after disagreement over loan

[Courtesy]

Detectives have launched investigations into the murder of a 25-year-old woman who was allegedly killed by her husband.

The woman was reportedly killed in cold blood and her body dumped at her parent’s compound on Saturday. 

Her husband, 32, is fighting for his life at Longisa County Hospital after he attempted to take his own life after the incident.

The man was rushed to hospital after he was found by an irate mob who stormed his home after finding the body of his wife.

The incident at Cheboror Village, Kipreres sub-location in Bomet East has sparked an outcry, with locals pressing police for a quick probe.

Kipreres Sub-location assistant chief Robert Katam said the couple’s fight over money could be the reason behind the incident.

“We have reports that the two had differences over a loan they took from a microfinance institution recently and have been quarrelling over the money but we do not know why it ended in this manner,” the administrator said.

Katam said the husband was in stable condition and once out of hospital, will shed light on what exactly happened.

“We are hoping to get detailed information from the husband once he is out of the hospital. It is good he is out of danger,” Katam said.

The chief said they suspected a money dispute could be at the centre of the murder.

“From the body of the woman, it is clear that the murder stemmed from an argument before she was stabbed and her body dumped,” he said.

Katam said marks at the scene where the body was found shows she was dragged and left there after being murdered elsewhere.

Neighbours told The Sunday Standard that the two, who had been living peacefully, started fighting over a microfinance loan they had taken after they differed on how to utilize the money.

“They have lived in harmony all along raising their children peacefully. But the sudden change and hostility was brought by a loan they took and within five days, we are saddened by the turn of events,” a neighbour said.

Meanwhile, Bomet County Commissioner Susan Waweru has said there is a spike in cases of suicide in the county, which she has linked to alcohol abuse. Waweru has asked locals to share their problems to find help and avert the incidents.

In a separate incident, police in Kakamega are looking for a group of men accused of killing a Tanzanian national at a gold mine  in Ikolomani on Wednesday evening.

County police boss Hassan Barua said the suspects, who were armed with crude weapons, killed the miner and left five others with serious injuries during the 4pm attack at Isulu village.

Barua said the attackers appeared to target foreign miners, adding that the victims had been working at the gold mine shaft for several months before the attack. 

“We have established that the suspects attacked their victims because they are foreigners. They claimed that outsiders had dominated gold mining activities in the area at the expense of residents,” said Barua.

According to Barua, residents told the police that foreigners engaging in gold mining in the area were arrogant.

“The residents said they want to be allowed to take charge of the gold mining shafts because they are on their farms. However, as law enforcers, all we have told them is to find a way of co-existing peacefully.” 

He said they are pursuing crucial leads and will soon catch up with the suspects.