Home was most unsafe place during festivities

On December 14, 2020, Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai recalled all officers on leave to keep the country safe as Kenyans celebrated a unique festive season beleaguered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

While the police patrolled streets across the country, criminals moved to the one place nearly out of reach to the security officers — the home.

Statistics from the National Police Service (NPS) seen by the Saturday Nation indicate that at least 28 people died in crime incidents in the space of five days, with the majority of them occurring at home.

Domestic violence, home break-ins by thieves and corporal punishment gone horribly wrong saw 10 people lose their lives between December 23 and 28.

Another six people died in road-related crimes, mostly hit-and-run incidents.

Five children died in Mwihoko, Ruiru constituency, Kiambu County on Thursday after they fell into a 20-feet septic pit filled with water while playing.

Ruiru OCPD Phineas Lingera said the pit when it caved in.

“The children were playing near a construction site where a developer is building a house and where there is also septic pit covered with shrubs. They fell into the open pit and drowned,” said Mr Lingera

Mr Lingera said the five children were from different families and their bodies were moved to the Kenyatta University Funeral Home.

In Rachuonyo South, Homa Bay County, police have arrested a 40-year-old man for allegedly defiling his 11-year-old niece in Kasimba sub-location. The minor, a Grade Four pupil, has been living with the suspect after being orphaned.

She told a neighbour of her ordeal and reported the matter to the area chief, who, together with police officers from Oyugis Police Station, arrested the suspect.

On Friday, a motorcycle rider was crushed to death in a hit-and-run incident in Kirinyaga County.

The rider, who was not immediately identified, was heading towards Kutus from Ngurubani when the accident occurred around 12.30am.

“The driver of the car sped off,” said a witness. Mwea East police boss Daniel Kavita said the body was taken to the Kerugoya Referral Hospital mortuary, pending investigations.

In Mbeere North, Catherine Mbuya had no food for Christmas. Her husband Crispine Nyaga came home just past 11pm and demanded to be served a hot dish. Ms Mbuya said there was no food, sparking an argument and a scuffle. According to police reports, Mr Nyaga struck her with a panga, killing her.

The following day, at 8am, Charles Nderitu was spending time with his sister and her son. The sister had split up with her husband three months earlier and sought refuge in Mr Nderitu’s home.

Her ex-husband made his way into the house and attacked Mr Nderitu before threatening to kill his sister. The ex-husband claimed he had come to get his son, and left with the boy. But a group of boda boda riders pursued the man and beat him up before taking him to the police.

A few minutes before 10am on the same day in Murang’a County, Damaris Wanjiku Mbogo was spending time with her new husband Harrison Nganga in their Maragus Ridge home when her ex-husband Joseph Wageni Kamau stormed into the house and attacked Mr Nganga. The victim was rushed to Murang’a County Hospital where he died while receiving treatment.

Home-related incidents

Other people who died in home-related incidents are Elizabeth Muthengi (Tana River), Henry Mwaninge (Taita Taveta), Janet Nambia (Nairobi), Lameck Olianga (Vihiga), a suspected thief identified as Paulo (Nakuru) and an unidentified refugee at Kakuma Camp (Turkana).

Paulo, a repeat offender in Trigoi village, Njoro was allegedly caught inside a homestead owned by Ms Josephine Taituk at 2am on December 27. Paulo was allegedly trying to steal a cow when he was busted. 

The family raised the alarm and neighbours responded, cornered him and beat him to death. When police visited the scene, they found an arrow lodged in Paulo’s back, and a deep cut at the back of his head.

Ms Muthengi and Mr Mwaninge were attacked in their homes, police believe, by robbers. Ten-year-old Nambia was a victim of corporal punishment. Following the death of her mother, Nambia was taken in by her aunt Loise Achieng. 

Her cousin Jackline Mumuli took the minor to Radiant Hospital on Juja Road where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Ms Mumuli was arrested by Directorate of Criminal Investigations officers.

The detectives established that Ms Nambia had been tortured and started a search for the suspect. Meanwhile, Meru-based prison warder Alex Naibe was attacked in his home on Boxing Day at 11.30pm. Neighbours heard his screams and came to the rescue. One suspect was cornered and lynched before police arrived at the scene.

In Kisumu County, the body of a young man was found on Ngege Beach in Korando. The man is said to have gone on his usual excavation activities and had taken a break to swim when he met his death.

When the body was found, the man estimated to be in his late thirties only had a vest and boxers on, while his other clothes were on the boat. 

The body, which had no visible injuries, was collected by police officers from Maseno Police Station. 

Kisumu County Commander Ranson Lolmodooni said it was a suspected case of drowning. 
One person died while 19 others were seriously injured yesterday at Ena village in Embu County when a bus rolled several times. The victim was the bus driver.

According to the witnesses, the Meru-bound bus was trying to avoid a head-on collision with an oncoming matatu.

“The driver lost control of the bus and the vehicle overturned,” one of the witnesses said.

Those who survived were rushed to Embu and Runjenjes hospital for treatment.

The accident caused a major traffic jam as residents blocked the road as they rescued the survivors, some whom suffered multiple leg and hand fractures.

Most of the wounded were going home for New Year celebrations when the tragedy struck.
County police commander, Mr Daniel Rukunga, said the body of the driver was taken to the Embu Referral Hospital mortuary while the ill-fated vehicle was towed to the local police station and detained there for inspection.

Reporting by Mary Wambui, Brian Wasuna, Simon Ciuri, George Odiwuor, George Munene, and Rushdie Oudia