A domestic conflict in Chemundu, Baraton, Nandi County turned tragic after a man fatally stabbed his brother-in-law during a heated quarrel. The suspect, who had traveled to his wife’s home to collect his three children, ended up sparking a confrontation that left one person dead and nearly cost him his own life at the hands of enraged villagers.
The incident occurred on Monday when the man arrived at his wife’s maternal home armed with a knife. His wife, together with their children, had reportedly moved out of the matrimonial home following ongoing domestic disputes. Upon his arrival, the suspect demanded to leave with the children, but his brothers-in-law opposed the move, leading to a violent altercation.
In the ensuing scuffle, the suspect stabbed 34-year-old Geoffrey Kimutai in the chest, killing him instantly. Witnesses raised an alarm, drawing villagers to the scene. The crowd turned on the suspect, beating him severely before police officers intervened. He was rushed to hospital, admitted in stable condition, and placed under arrest pending investigations and a possible murder charge.
The body of the deceased was moved to the mortuary for an autopsy as police continued with the probe. Authorities say the matter highlights the dangers of unresolved domestic disputes escalating into deadly violence.
Meanwhile, separate mob justice incidents were reported in Kisumu and Nairobi counties. In Mayenya, Kisumu, a 25-year-old man identified as Tyson Ondiek was lynched along the Rabuor-Chiga road. He was accused of being behind a string of robberies in the area and linked to the murder of a man in Omungi. Villagers stoned him to death and later set his body on fire.
In Kware, Nairobi, another suspect, Thomas Mwangi, 22, was beaten and fatally injured on suspicion of theft. His mother tried to rescue him after finding him tied up, bleeding, and barely conscious. She rushed him to hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries.
Police have condemned the rising cases of mob justice, urging the public to surrender suspects for lawful processing rather than resorting to violence. They emphasized that ongoing operations across the country are yielding arrests, with many suspects already facing charges in court.
The recent cases underscore a worrying trend of domestic disputes turning violent and communities taking the law into their own hands, raising urgent questions about conflict resolution, crime prevention, and trust in the justice system.
