A man has been arrested for allegedly stabbing his girlfriend to death in Mwala, Machakos County.
Patrick Mwangi was nabbed after he was discharged from Machakos Level 5 Hospital where he had been admitted on Thursday, July 27.
Mwangi is suspected to have brutally murdered his girlfriend, Eunice Syokau, under unclear circumstances at a shop in Masii town, Mwala subcounty last Saturday, July 22.
Mwala subcounty police commander Nancy Jerobon said the suspect had been locked up at Masii police station as investigations into the incident continue.
“Patrick Mwangi who allegedly committed murder by stabbing his girlfriend was discharged from Machakos Level 5 in stable condition. He has been detained at Masii police station awaiting processing to appear in court on Monday,” Jerobon told the Star by phone on Thursday.
CCTV footage seen by the Star shows the suspect drawing what looks like a knife from his waist and stabbing the woman in the chest inside a shop.
The woman was accosted by the suspect inside the shop where she had gone shopping.
Though police said the motive of the killing was yet to be established, the deceased’s mother Damaris Nduku said the suspect had been demanding for custody of a child they bore together before going separate ways.
“My daughter was murdered by her boyfriend on Saturday. He was her baby daddy and was pursuing the deceased for the child,” Nduku told reporters on Thursday.
“The two were living together before they separated and my daughter settled and opened a business in Masii town where he trailed and killed her.”
Nduku pleaded for justice for her daughter.
“I’m pleading with the government to ensure justice for my daughter. I don’t know the man and I have never seen him,” she said.
Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi visited the family and condoled with the deceased’s relatives and friends on Wednesday.
Mwangangi raised concerns over the increased murder incidences in the country.
He urged parents, teachers and the clergy to take the youth through counselling.
“Let’s take responsibility as parents, church and schools so that we have guidance and counselling sessions. So that, we talk to our youth and children for them to know how to go about overcoming challenges in life and differences among themselves whenever they have them,” he said.
He said this would ensure the country has responsible citizens going forward.
