The family of a 30-year-old lady who was stabbed three times by her boyfriend in the Port Reitz area of Mombasa is planning to initiate private prosecution against the accused man.
The secondary school teacher in one of the schools in Mombasa was stabbed on Monday night after an alleged altercation with her boyfriend.
The boyfriend who reportedly works as a senior officer in one of the banks in Changamwe, is said to have attacked the woman after she allegedly wanted to end their relations, her elder sister said.
On Thursday afternoon, the victim's family and Muslims for Human Rights (Muhuri), lamented that the suspect had been released by the police just a few hours after his arrest.
The elder sister said there had been a misunderstanding between the couple and her sister was calling off the relationship.
However, the suspect did not take it lightly.
“They went for late lunch and as they were talking, my sister decided to break the news that she's no longer interested in the relationship, but the man could not take it,” the elder sister said.
The couple then left the food joint and went to the Port Reitz area, where the man parked his vehicle and tried to talk to the lady to iron out their issues.
“They had an altercation and while she was trying to get off from him, he stabbed her in the back three times. And while he was doing it the third time, the knife broke and got stuck on her back,” she said.
The lady screamed for help and the man sped off.
She was first taken to Port Reitz Hospital by good Samaritans before her family came and rushed her to Aga Khan Hospital, where she underwent surgery to remove the knife.
“After the surgery, she was taken to the ICU where she is still stabilising from the deep cut. Since Monday night, she's still at the ICU fighting for her life,” said her sister.
The matter was first reported at the Chaani police station by her cousin but the family was surprised that the case was transferred to Changamwe police station.
“We were told that he (suspect) had been arrested and taken to Changamwe. But our sister told us the man is well known at Changamwe and he will be released without any charge,” the cousin said.
He said later they were informed that the suspect had been released on a police bond even after the witness statements were taken from the family and some of the boda boda operators who rescued her.
Muhuri Rapid Response Officer Francis Auma took the family to Coast Police Headquarters where they lodged an official complaint against the police.
“Changamwe police is notorious for not doing the right things. The right thing that needed to be done is for the police to arraign the suspect and let the court give a bond because this was a case of attempted murder,” Auma said.
He said Muhuri and the family will move to court to apply for a private prosecution if the suspect is not rearrested and charged.
“The matter was reported at Chaani, why is it being handled at Changamwe? We now want the regional office to take up the matter and the suspect re-arrested and charged before a competent court,” he said.
“Failure to do that Muhuri and their family will move to court and apply for private prosecution and at the same time plan a huge demonstration against the police. We will also demand the bank where the suspect works to fire him. He is a murderer and not allowed to serve clients.”
The family appealed to the government to bring the man to justice.
“I'm really appealing to the government to bring this man to book and to allow the law to take its course because whatever arguments, whatever misunderstandings people might have should not end like this,” the elder sister said.
She said her sister is still very young and her children need her support.
“This is a young life, this is a career woman, she's a mother. I mean, it is not right on all levels. I'm appealing that this guy should not be set free under whatever circumstances.
