KENYA – A middle-aged man who on Thursday January 21 allegedly killed his girlfriend in Njiru, Kasarani Constituency, it was Wednesday morning, January 27, caught attempting to commit suicide by jumping off a storeyed building in Kayole, Nairobi.

A manhunt had been launched for the suspect by security agencies in Kenya after it was reported that he killed his girlfriend Margaret Muchemi, a resident of Njiru in Kasarani Sub-County after she invited him over to settle their differences.

Muchemi who had medical training, operated a private clinic in Mwiki, Kasarani. Muchemi’s two house-helps, Damaris Nyamusi and Zainab Naila told K24TV that the suspect was carrying a backpack when he arrived at the deceased’s home by 8am on the day of the incident.

The 34-year-old mother of one (a 4-year-old son) reportedly sent out Nyamusi and Naila to buy meat at a nearby butcher’s shop after the suspect arrived.

Nyamusi said;

“She told us she would pay via M-Pesa. 

“When we reached the butcher’s shop and ordered meat costing Ksh500, we called our employer and asked her to send the money, but she said she hadn’t loaded cash to her M-Pesa wallet. Consequently, we left the meat and returned home. 

“Upon arrival, Muchemi, who was visibly irritated, asked us why we couldn’t let her talk in private with her boyfriend. She, thereafter, gave us Ksh500 and told us to go buy the meat and hang around until she was ready to have us back in the house.

“Hours passed by, and we hadn’t received a call from her. One of us (nannies) called and told her that we were hungry, and wanted to go back home and eat. Muchemi, whose intention was to keep us out longer, sent us money and said we should eat at any nearby restaurant.”

The nannies said while having their meals, one of their neighbours called and informed them that their house was on fire.

Naila said;

“We rushed home and found smoke billowing from our boss’s bedroom. Neighbours had attempted to put out the fire. On accessing our employer’s room, we found her arms and legs tied to the bed, and her body charred by the flames. Her face was completely destroyed by the fire. Her estranged lover, was nowhere to be seen.”

After a spirited effort by the neighbours, the inferno was contained. Nyamusi claimed that on Wednesday night she heard her boss speaking with her lawyer on phone saying that her (Muchemi’s) estranged boyfriend was demanding Ksh37,000 which he had lent her.

The nanny added;

“She said the man had threatened to come collect the money today (Thursday, January 21).”

It remains unclear whether the suspect killed Muchemi over the debt or it was a case of love gone sour. Police arrived at the scene at 4:30pm Thursday and collected Muchemi’s body for preservation at City Mortuary.

However a dramatic scene was recorded on Tuesday, January 26, after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives traced the suspect to Kayole Turkey Resort building by tracking his phone signal. He was found holding knieves while threatening to harm himself.

Authorities plead with the suspect not to harm himself with the knives or fatally jump off the four storeyed building.

A police officer privy to the suspect’s hunt told K24TV; 

“He was holding knives, saying if he has to be arrested, then he must die first.”