By John Mugendi
Police in Tharaka Nithi County on Sunday morning continued with the manhunt for a man from Kabururu village in Kamaindi location who hacked to death his ex-wife and their daughter on Saturday evening.
Igambang’ombe Deputy County Commissioner, Mr Fred Masinjila said after committing the horrible act, 35-year-old Kimathi Njoka vanished into the expansive Chuka University’s Kairini farm.
Masinjila said the man slashed his 27-year-old wife Jacinta Murugi to death before turning to their six-year-old daughter and beheaded her.
“The criminal escaped from the residents who were baying for his blood and vanished into the 700 acre Chuka University’s Kairini farm,” said Mr Masinjila.
He said police who rushed to the scene upon receiving the information found the two bodies lying in pool of blood with the minor’s body completely separated from the body.
The administrator said the man reportedly warned the daughter of crying as he hacked the mother only to turn to her.
“Police immediately launched manhunt inside the thick bush with help of sniffer dogs and we are hopeful that we will get him in order to face the full force of the law for his heinous act,” said Mr Masinjila.
The bodies were moved to Chuka County Referral Hospital mortuary.
Mr Ireri Njue, the father of the deceased woman said the man met his daughter while she was in college six years ago and they gave birth to the murdered Baby Class girl.
He added that after a short stay, the two separated and he gave his daughter a parcel of land to build a house and to farm.
“I feel a lot of pain for losing my daughter and granddaughter in such a painful way. I hope police will arrest him before he comes back and kills another person as he fled vowing,” said Mr Njue.
Residents condemned the horrible act and urged the government to improve security in the area noting that the nearby police post is many kilometers away.
“We are asking police to give us security because he might come back and kill another person,” said Daniel Kiragara, a resident.
The murder rekindles the killing of Kamaindi location chief, Majau Mukengu and Chuka OCS Joseph Kinyua in 2019 in the same area.
The location is yet to get another chief.
