09 November 2022

• Villagers said the trader had organised a family party and invited friends.

• After the guests left the man is said to have picked a quarrel with his wife.

The family of Purity Wanjiku, 28 is demanding justice after she was allegedly burnt beyond recognition by her partner.

The horrifying incident occurred in Murubara village in Kirinyaga County. Villagers said the trader had organised a family party and invited friends with the partygoers making merry for hours.

After the guests left, the man is said to have picked a quarrel with his wife.

He took a knife and stabbed her to death in the house that the couple shared with their three children, aged between two and six.

He then set the building on fire in a bid to conceal evidence.As the house went up in flames, the trader hurriedly left with his children and lied to his neighbours that a gas cylinder had exploded and his wife was burning inside.

The neighbours raised the alarm, attracting scores of villagers, who unsuccessfully tried to put out the fast-spreading fire.

All household goods, including beds and mattresses, were destroyed. Detectives arrested the trader and on frisking him found a blood-stained knife in a pocket in his trousers.

He was whisked off to the Wang'uru police station, where he was locked up for questioning. Mwea East sub-county police boss Daniel Kitavi said the man’s motive has not been established.

It is also not clear whether the kids witnessed the murder or not.