A man from Ilesi village in Shinyalu Constituency, Kakamega County, has been arrested after he allegedly hacked to death his 25-year-old sister-in-law.
Patience Penenzi lost her life on Thursday, September 24, after being attacked with a machete by Desmond Kirishi.
The assault happened as she was walking her four-year-old child to school. Penenzi died from multiple cut wounds, while her young child, also injured in the attack, remains in critical condition at Mukumu Hospital.
According to neighbors, Kirishi, said to struggle with drug addiction, had a history of tormenting Penenzi. The two shared a family compound while her husband was working abroad in Qatar, a situation locals say created ongoing tension between them.
Ben Mulinya, the area chief for the Ilesi location, described the suspect as someone with a troubled past, noting his known ties to criminal activity and involvement with gangs in the area.
Kirishi attempted to escape after the attack but was later apprehended by police in Kakamega Town, where officers intervened to pull him away from a mob that had gathered and threatened to take justice into its own hands.
Investigations into the killing are expected to continue as authorities determine the charges the suspect will face.
