A tragic and brutal incident unfolded in Kirinyaga on May 20, when a 25-year-old man was arrested for allegedly killing his father following a dispute over a chicken. The suspect reportedly attacked his father with a panga, inflicting horrific injuries that ultimately led to the father’s death.
The victim, Boniface Murage, aged 44, was involved in a violent confrontation with his son in their home village of Karumandi, located in Kirinyaga’s Gichugu Constituency. According to reports from local police, the argument escalated rapidly, culminating in the son using a sharp panga to chop off both of his father’s hands.
The attack was so savage that the son was found pouring his father’s blood into a bucket, an act that left neighbors and family members deeply disturbed and shocked. Some questioned whether the suspect had any intention beyond the violence, such as attempting to drink the blood.
After the attack, the suspect fled the scene. Neighbors, alerted by the deceased’s cries for help, arrived to find two buckets filled with blood but no sign of the suspect. They were later informed that the suspect had gone to the nearby Kianyaga Police Station, where he reportedly confessed to having fought with his father and admitted to cutting off his father’s hands. The son also sought treatment for injuries he sustained during the altercation.
Both the suspect and his father were rushed to Kianyaga Sub-County Hospital. However, despite medical efforts, Boniface Murage was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital. The son was subsequently transferred to Kerugoya Referral Hospital for treatment and is under police guard while admitted there.
The circumstances surrounding the incident highlight not only the tragedy of the loss but also the increasing violence in the community. Police officers investigating the case noted the brutality of the crime and are continuing to examine what led to such a deadly confrontation. The family and neighbors remain in shock as they try to come to terms with the violent death and the bizarre nature of the aftermath.
The body of the deceased was taken to Kibugi Funeral Home, where it awaits a postmortem examination to determine the precise cause of death and to support the ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, authorities have expressed concern over the rise in violent crime and murder cases across the country, emphasizing the need for stronger measures to curb such incidents.
This violent episode in Kirinyaga is one among several disturbing reports of violent crimes in recent days. In another case, a man was stabbed to death during a robbery in the Kasarani area of Nairobi. The incident occurred on a roadside in the Chuma Mrefu neighborhood, near Muirigo Road, where the victim was attacked by suspected thugs during a struggle. The man succumbed to a stab wound to the chest and was taken to a mortuary pending identification and further examination.
Such events underscore the challenges faced by law enforcement and communities as they deal with rising incidents of violence. The police continue to investigate both cases, seeking justice for the victims and reassurance for the public. The community in Kirinyaga, especially the victim’s family, now mourns a horrific loss that began from what should have been a minor domestic disagreement but escalated into a deadly tragedy.
