The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Tuesday arrested the suspect behind the gruesome murder of his 24-year-old wife in the Mugirirwa area of Chuka in Meru South.
The arrest was made after months of evading police dragnet by the murder suspect who had fled into hiding after committing the heinous act.
Following the report of the case, a manhunt was launched. With a forensic intelligence, a joint team of homicide and crime research detectives conducted a crackdown in Murang'a South which led to the arrest of the suspect.
In the unfortunate homicide reported by the chief of the Mugwe location on July 11, the suspect attacked his wife after an altercation.
Reportedly, the suspect turned against his wife of two years following a family dispute, inflicting fatal cuts on her head and legs.
Neighbours whose attention was drawn to the ruction arrived at the suspect's house to find a profusely bleeding victim in a terminal situation.
Upon rushing to the scene, a Maasai club (rungu), a black whip, and a panga all soaked in blood were found behind the body of the victim.
Further, more blood was observed on the wall and floor an indication of the young lady's struggle to escape for her life.
Concerned neighbours raised alarm which led to the police in Chuka arriving at the scene. Efforts to rush the victim to the nearest hospital were futile as she announced dead on arrival.
The suspect has been placed in custody pending arraignment on Wednesday before the Court.
The incident comes on the back of heightened calls from human rights groups for the government to contain rising femicide cases in Kenya. The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) on October 29 urged President William Ruto to consider declaring femicide a national crisis following the troubling rise of femicide cases, asking DCI to step up measures to bring perpetrators to book.
According to the latest statistics shared by the National Police Service (NPS), in the last three months, 97 women were killed in femicide cases a slight increase from the same period last year.
