KENYA – Police are currently pursuing a man who allegedly attacked his 22-year-old wife following a domestic dispute and chopped off her hands before escaping on a waiting motorcycle.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in a statement on Monday, November 1, said the appalling incident happened in Busia’s Butula sub-county on Sunday evening.

As detectives search for the cruel husband identified as Benard Ouma, the victim, Janet Auma is being treated at the Busia County Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Auma’s mother Modesta Awino said the two had not known peace since her daughter moved in with Ouma two years ago. She was just 20 at the time. The couple share a one-year-old baby.

Ms Auma and Mr Ouma dated just for a few months before they started living together. Auma’s parents were against their relationship because they felt their daughter was too young for marriage.

“Their marriage flew into headwinds just months after they started living together. We have tried telling her to quit the relationship but our pleas have fallen on deaf ears,” Ms Owino told The Standard at the county hospital where her daughter is admitted in critical condition.

In the latest incident, on Monday, Ouma and Auma fought 10 days ago. My daughter packed her bags and left. I told her there was no way I was going to allow her to return to her violent husband. I feared for her life.

It is alleged that Ouma followed his wife to her parents’ home and attacked her before fleeing using a motorcycle. He is also said to have slashed her on the thighs and head with a machete he was armed with.