Editor's Review

The accused is said to have attacked the woman and two children while they were on the farm using a panga.


A 40-year-old man has hacked two children to death leaving their mother hospitalised.

The incident happened at the Kwamunyanzu area of Kiomo location, Mwingi central.

The accused is said to have attacked the woman and two children while they were on the farm using a panga.

The accused identified Zakayo Ruth is said to have bough land in the area and has not stayed there for long.

The brother-in-law of the attacked woman is the one who sold him land.

The children are aged 4 and 10 years.

Muthui Mathuki, the husband whose two children killed by a neighbour. PHOTO | The Star

The incident left one dead on the spot while the four-year-old succumbed at Mwingi level 4 hospital on arrival.

The mother, a 30-year-old, is nursing serious injuries at Mwingi level 4 hospital.

Both bodies of the children have been moved to the same health facility's morgue.

Muthui Mathuki, the husband and the father of the two children expressed shock over the incident saying he can't figure out the motive.

"I have three children and one escaped death narrowly when he ran away and informed me that his two siblings and mother had been attacked by our neighbour," he said.

Muthui said the two have been living well for some time and he has never seen an issue that could push him to butcher his family members. 

"We usually fetched water for him with my wife every daily as he is still new in the area," he added.

He said the man came from Karatina before settling in the area after his brother sold him the piece of land.

" I'm in so much pain and I want the government to intervene and ensure this man faces the law," he added.

Peter Mutuma, Mwingi central sub-county police commander confirmed the incident.

He said although the exact cause of the cruel act was not established, it is rumoured to have been accelerated by a land dispute.

Area Chief Benedetta Wamuo said the suspect was new in the area, a landowner who live alone.

"He has not stayed around this place for long and the brother-in-law to the hacked woman had sold the piece of land to the man," said the Chief.

The chief added that the suspect is being pursued.