Police in Thika are looking for a man who allegedly shot dead his brother’s wife in an unclear circumstances and fled.

Confirming the incident, area criminal investigations Officer Hussein Bakari said the suspect identified as Charles Mbogo shot the woman after a quarrel at Happy Valley Estate in Thika East on Monday evening.

The DCI officer said the victim is a 25-year-old nurse who worked in Nairobi and a mother of a two-year-old child.

Mr Bakari said initial reports indicate there has been a long-standing family dispute over the house they were living in.

The family of the deceased was living in Ruaka area, Kiambu before moving to their new home in Thika that belonged to her mother-in-law who died about a month ago.

Police are yet to unravel how the suspect, a welder, came into possession of a firearm.

Meanwhile, another family is counting huge losses after thieves stole 50 goats and sheep at Mary Dale Farm on Monday night.

Magana Kenyatta, the owner of the livestock, said a 10-man gang raided the farm at midnight, tortured and kidnapped the watchman before making way with the animals.

“There has been a wave of crime and theft of livestock in this area which we suspect is being perpetrated by some suspicious livestock dealers and meat vendors this festive season,” Magana said.