Meru— A man was arrested after killing his 22-year-old biological son.
According to a police report, the victim sustained deep cuts on his body and succumbed while on his way to the hospital.
“We received a report that a suspect hacked his son at Muringene village, Antubaiga location in Meru County. When the police arrived at his residence at 11 am, the suspect locked himself inside his house. He threatened to hack the police officers with a hook known as a sealine when they attempted to force entry into his house,” said William Leting, Deputy sub-county police commander Igembe central.
The police finally managed to gain entry to his house at 3 am the next morning and took him into custody. He is currently being held at Maua police station
According to Irene Mukiri, the deceased’s sister who witnessed the murder, her father dragged the deceased to his farm and chopped off his genitals. He left him bleeding heavily after committing the act.
“I had accompanied my brother to visit our father at his residence. When we arrived, he saw us, and armed with a machete and large stick, he chased after us. He captured my brother and cut both of his arms with the machete. When I realized what had happened, I stopped running. On a closer look, I saw him dragging him to the farm while he was bleeding heavily,” said Irene.
“Because I had no phone, I screamed for help but no one came. I followed them to the farm and I was shocked when I saw my father chopping off my brother’s genitals. After committing the act, he left him bleeding heavily.
“I went out of the residence and pleaded with a motorcycle rider to take my brother to the hospital. On our to the hospital, we encountered a police vehicle and the police officers for help
“The police put him in their vehicle and rushed him to Maua general hospital. My brother was pronounced dead on arrival.
“I got emotional and couldn’t hold back my tears. A woman nearby bought me a lesso and asked me to cover myself with it as my clothes were bloodstained with my brother’s blood.
“I returned to my mother’s place and when I informed everyone what had happened, they all broke down into tears. They decided to confront my father but and when they arrived at the gate of his residence, he threatened them with a machete,” said Irene.
According to the suspect’s ex-wife, the suspect had assaulted the deceased earlier and he was admitted to the hospital for a long time. The hospital bill accumulated to Ksh 200,000 but was settled after she pleaded with well-wishers to intervene.
“I divorced him 16 years ago after he cut me on the legs with a machete and I spent 6 months in hospital. Before we spilt, we had reconciled but when he cut me on the hands again, I left him for good and rented a house where have been living with our eight children,” said Salome.
“The deceased was the eldest of the three boys and the rest five are girls. Earlier, he had assaulted the deceased and he was admitted at the for a long time with the bill accumulating to Ksh 200,000.
“The bill was settled after I pleaded with well-wishers to intervene. I have suffered raising the children by myself and I was unable to pay for their high school education.
‘When the boys were being initiated, I asked him to pay for the surgery but he refused and said that they should be thrown to the dogs and that they are not his blood.
“I urge the authorities to ensure he remains in jail because am afraid he will kill me when he is released, said Salome.
According to Wilfred Mwende, the deceased’s wife, the suspect had told him earlier that he would never sire a child.
“I urge the authorities to take his life so he could disappear from the face of this earth. My husband was killed and had left me with a 4-year-old child. I suspected this day would come because his father threatened him on several occasions,” said Wilfred.
According to Miriam Nkatha, the deceased’s sister, their father threatened to kill another family member after killing her younger brother.
“There was a time he went to Maili tatu where my mother leaves and armed with a gun, he threatened to shoot her. We have been living in fear because he might ambush us anytime. After dropping out of school due to a lack of fees, I opted to get married because I had no choice.
“My husband looked down on me and he constantly abused me because I wasn’t independent,” said Miriam.
According to Joy Makena, their father threatened to kill five members of his family after he is released from prison.
“After posting sterling performance in my KCPE exam and becoming second, my father refused to pay for my high school education. We plead with the authorities to make him disappear for good,” said Joy
According to Agnes Kaari, a sister to the deceased, she Is afraid that their father will bribe his way out of jail and murder another member of the family.
William Leting, deputy sub-county police commander Igembe Central, said that the members of the community were living in fear that the suspect might commit another murder after he is released on bail.
“He has proved that he cannot live together with human beings. We commend the residents who reported the matter and avoided taking the law into their own hands,” said William.
“We also urge witnesses to come forward because the information was brought by the members of the community to us. The witnesses will the police to conduct quick investigations so that the suspect can be charged sooner The witnesses will the police conduct quick investigations so that the suspect can be charged sooner.
“We encourage the family members to feel secure because we will provide security for them and do all that we can to ensure the suspect is not released on bail,” said William.
The deputy sub-county police commander Igembe Central added that the suspect had a criminal record of fleeing to the Isiolo border after committing a crime and was a threat to the community.
