Tragic Twist: Dispute Over Sh2,000 Government Stipend Takes Fatal Turn in Laikipia
In a village located in Laikipia County, community members come together to offer prayers and support to the family of a 49-year-old woman. She tragically lost her life in a ruthless murder, purportedly carried out by her younger brother. The incident stemmed from a disagreement involving the utilization of Sh2,000.
Near the makeshift tent in the Male area, where mourners are engaged in prayer and funeral discussions, villagers are quietly conversing, grappling with the harsh reality of Rebecca Muthoni’s brutal murder last Saturday.
A hammer blow to the back of her head cut short the life of the mother of four.
Ms. Mary Wahito, the elderly and unwell mother, observed the distressing event and is deeply upset, expressing her desire to avoid any future encounters with her son.
“As long as I live, I will never again consider him my son. Let the government deal with him in whichever way they deem fit knowing that none of his family members will support him in the court case,” she says.
Shortly following the occurrence, Mr. Joseph Gitahi, aged 45, turned himself into the authorities at the Matanya police station, which was situated five kilometers from the incident location.
Face murder charges
On Monday, he was brought to court to answer murder charges. However, he refrained from entering a plea at the request of the police, who sought additional time to finalize their investigations. These investigations will encompass a post-mortem examination of the victim and a mental evaluation of the accused.
At the residence of the alleged perpetrator, the mother characterizes her fourth-born, who is currently 45 years old and remains unmarried, as a source of trouble. She claims that since her husband’s passing eight years ago, this individual has consistently disrupted her peace.
She remembers how an intense verbal argument between her kids escalated into a physical altercation, leading to a devastating conclusion with the loss of her daughter’s life.
“My second-born daughter is married in the neighborhood and on this particular day had visited me to assist in general clean-up and cooking, something she has been doing for a while now. As we were seated in the kitchen her brother came, picked a quarrel with her and it ended tragically,” recalls 81-year-old Wahito.
She mentions that Mr. Gitahi, who serves as the reliable caretaker for his mother, withdrew Sh2,000 the day before. This amount represents the monthly government payout provided to the elderly as part of the Inua Jamii initiative.
Ms. Wahito recalls her son behaving uncontrollably when questioned about how he had utilized the funds, and he went so far as to issue threats of harm toward his sister.
Fetch a hammer
“He walked into the kitchen where we were seated, picked a quarrel, and then walked out to fetch a hammer from the store. He hit Muthoni at the back of the head sending her sprawling to the floor, unconscious. The son was still determined to hit her again but I intervened,” explains the mother.
She describes how she used her cane to strike her son’s back, compelling him to leave the residence. Once outside, he threatened neighbors, cautioning them not to respond to any calls for help, or he would harm them.
It took approximately three hours for family members and neighbors to find the courage to react to the situation. Muthoni was quickly taken to Naromoru Level Four Hospital, where she unfortunately passed away due to head injuries while receiving treatment.
On that specific day, Peter Gachure, Muthoni’s spouse, mentioned that he had journeyed to Naromoru to deliver provisions to their daughter, who is currently studying at a college in Nyeri.
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“We woke up normally and shared the day’s responsibilities. My wife was to visit my mother-in-law to help in washing her clothes and cooking while I packed some cabbages and potatoes to send to our third-born daughter in Nyeri town,” he says.
He received the news of his wife’s serious injury while in Naromoru town and was instructed to proceed to the hospital.
“On arrival at the hospital, I forced my way to the emergency room and pushed the medics aside, held my unconscious wife closely and some instinct told me she would never wake up again,” recalled Mr Gachure.
The event has caused ripples throughout the quiet village, bringing it into the spotlight. Residents are cautioning that unless authorities take strong action against alcoholism, drug, and substance abuse, similar incidents are expected to happen again in the future.
Bizarre murder incidents
Ms Alice Mwai, a village elder, says such an incident has never been witnessed there before. “I have watched some bizarre murder incidents on television and never imagined it could happen in my village. We should all join efforts to fight drug and substance abuse, which is slowly eroding society’s morals,” notes Ms Mwai.
Wilson Thuo, the Chief of Tigithi Location, acknowledges the widespread issue of alcoholism and drug abuse in the area. However, he asserts that parents are not actively collaborating with authorities to eliminate this problem.
“Some family members are protective of their kin and alert them of an impending raid by police. We cannot win this war without the cooperation of citizens,” warns Mr Thuo.
Tragic Twist: Dispute Over Sh2,000 Government Stipend Takes Fatal Turn in Laikipia
