Police in Nakuru County are investigating an incident in which a man killed his estranged wife before taking his own life in the Teachers area.
The man, identified as Stephen Gathoni, is said to have strangled his wife, Monica Njeri, 25, in her house at dawn on Friday.
He then left her body on the bed and went to his own house, about 300 meters away, where he hanged himself using a rope.
According to police, the couple had been living separately due to domestic disputes.
Their five-year-old daughter witnessed the killing and stayed with her mother’s body until morning, when she informed neighbors.
The child told police that her father had visited them at night and strangled her mother using a binding wire.
A neighbour later discovered the body after visiting the house to request access to charge her Kenya Power and Lighting token meter, prompting her to alert police.
The girl then led officers to her father’s rented house, about 300 meters from the scene, where they found his body hanging on a blue rope. A suicide note and two pesticide containers branded Duo Dip and Ciper Dip were found on a table.
Both bodies were taken to the Nakuru County Morgue awaiting postmortem.
Suicide cases have been on the rise across the country despite ongoing awareness efforts.
According to the World Health Organisation, common causes include joblessness, financial hardship, legal challenges, depression, and substance abuse. Authorities have urged those experiencing mental distress to seek help.
In a separate incident, police in Muhoroni, Kisumu County, are investigating the death of a 56-year-old woman whose decomposing body was retrieved from a river in the Chemelil area.
Passers-by spotted the body floating in the Oseng’Teti River and alerted authorities. Detectives from Chemelil found the decomposing remains of Carena Oluch, who had been missing since October 17.
Her family has since identified the body as investigations continue to determine the cause of death.
The body was moved to Othoo Funeral Home.
