Man stabs wife to death over domestic row

A senior employee of Mombasa’s Bandari College was arrested on Thursday after his wife was stabbed to death over what was described as a domestic dispute.

Ms Susan Ndung’u was attacked shortly after the two reported to work in the morning. Susan was a subordinate member of staff at the college, specialising in maritime courses and which trains staff for the Kenya Ports Authority.

Mombasa police boss Kipkemboi Rop said they were holding the husband, Mr Bernard Kamwere, who is the head of training at the college.

Ms Ndung’u was stabbed several times in the chest and died on the way to hospital.

Mr Rop said the suspect was in custody as the police investigate the murder.

“We expect to take him to court tomorrow (Friday) where he will face charges that will be preferred after the investigations are completed,” he said.

The incident brought work at the college to a halt as workmates rushed to the woman’s office where the attack happened.

His side of story

The angry crowd turned on the senior manager and beat him senseless before police officers rescued him. They locked him up in a police vehicle before taking him away.

When approached by journalists, Mr Kamwere willingly gave his side of the story, blaming the incident on his wife’s refusal to reunite with him following their separation.

“I married this woman when she was a mere school dropout. I took her to college and got her a job. Then she decides to abandon me,” he said.

Mr Kamwere, who is in his 40s, alleged that Ms Ndung’u had earlier sent him a text message (SMS) informing him that she would be impregnated by another man and she would show him the child.

Neighbours and workmates told the Nation that all was not well between man and wife.

According to a woman who identified herself as friend and a neighbour of Ms Ndung’u, the couple have two girls in Form Two and Standard Eight.

“They had a traditional marriage. I have been their neighbour for seven years during which they have been having frequent disagreements.

“She left home on Monday last week with the two children and went to stay with her aunt in Bombolulu,” said the woman, who requested not to be named.

Before that, the neighbour added, the couple had had a violent confrontation. Efforts by neighbours to reconcile them bore no fruits.

Ms Nchama Makoti, a KPA employee, claimed the couple had been quarrelling on a regular basis for the last three months.

“The deceased used to tell us that their relationship was not good and she could no longer stay with him,” said Ms Makoti.

Consequently, Ms Ndung’u moved out of the man’s house and went to stay with her aunt in Bombolulu.

“Efforts by the husband to reconcile did not yield any fruits. But he kept following her, begging her to come back home,” she said.

A woman who identified herself as Ms Ndung’u’s aunt confirmed that the deceased was living with her at Bombolulu.

When journalists arrived at the scene, Mr Kamwere tried to cover his face using his vest, but police uncovered the face.

He remained handcuffed and locked up at the back of the police land cruiser. Bruised and almost naked, after his clothes were ripped off by the mob, Mr Kamwere bore the epithets hurled at him in silence, but at times he too answered back.

The body of his estranged wife was taken to the Pandya Memorial Hospital mortuary.

The college’s administration refused to comment, only saying that the matter was now a police case.

A senior administrator said the family had been informed of the incident.