KERUGOYA, Kenya — Police in Kirinyaga County have launched a manhunt for a 40-year-old woman suspected of fatally stabbing her lover during a domestic dispute at a bar in Muragara Shopping Centre, Ndia Sub-County, on Christmas Day.
The deceased, identified as Peter Mwangi Wanyeki, 52, reportedly died on the spot after sustaining a stab wound to the chest during a heated confrontation with the suspect, Edith Muthoni, whom residents described as his lover.
According to eyewitness accounts recorded by police, the argument erupted inside a local drinking establishment and allegedly stemmed from a disagreement over a Sh60 alcohol bill.
Residents who were present at the bar said the quarrel quickly escalated, drawing the attention of other patrons celebrating Christmas. Moments later, the suspect allegedly grabbed a knife and stabbed Wanyeki in the chest.
One witness, Florence Mureithi, told police that the knife had been in use for food preparation earlier in the day.
“I had been using the knife to cut potatoes when she suddenly picked it up,” Mureithi said in her statement to officers.
Wanyeki reportedly collapsed immediately and succumbed to his injuries before help could arrive.
The incident sent shockwaves through Muragara and surrounding villages, casting a dark cloud over what had been a festive holiday. Family members said they were celebrating Christmas at their rural home when they received news of the killing.
“We were together enjoying Christmas when I received a call informing me that my brother had been killed,” said Robert Wanyeki, the deceased’s brother. “I knew the woman. She comes from Kandegwa village, not far from here.”
Another relative, Kaburu Gatimu, said he rushed to the scene after learning of the incident and found Wanyeki lying in a pool of blood.
“We want justice. There is no reason why she should have killed him,” Gatimu said.
Kirinyaga West Sub-County Police Commander Jos Mudavadi confirmed the incident and said detectives were pursuing the suspect, who fled the scene immediately after the stabbing.
“Detectives are on the ground pursuing leads, and we urge members of the public to share any information that may help in her arrest,” Mudavadi said.
Police officers cordoned off the scene on Christmas Day to collect evidence and record statements from witnesses. The body was later moved to a local mortuary, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Investigators are treating the case as murder as they seek to establish the full circumstances surrounding the altercation, including whether alcohol consumption played a role in the escalation of the dispute.
The killing adds to growing concern over violent incidents linked to domestic and intimate partner disputes, particularly during festive seasons when alcohol consumption tends to rise. Police and community leaders have repeatedly warned that minor disagreements can quickly turn fatal when tempers flare.
Authorities have called on residents to avoid taking the law into their own hands and to seek peaceful means of resolving conflicts.
Meanwhile, police say they are intensifying efforts to trace the suspect, urging anyone with information on her whereabouts to report to the nearest police station as investigations continue.
