Nyeri granny in hospital after mysterious stabbing
Dr David Ndegwa, the medical superintendent at Karatina Level Four Hospital, displays the knife that was removed from 83-year-old Eunice Wanjiru's chest after she was stabbed in yet-to-be-explained circumstances. PHOTO | NICHOLAS KOMU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Initial reports indicated that Ms Eunice Wanjiru allegedly stabbed herself over a land dispute.
- However doctors have dismissed the claims, saying the depth of the wound could not have been self-inflicted.
- Relatives said she had a mental disorder and had been discharged from the same hospital a few days ago.
- But Dr Ndegwa dismissed the claims of her being mentally ill as she had no history or prior diagnosis of mental disorder.
An 83-year-old widow from Nyeri has been taken to hospital in critical condition after she was stabbed in the chest in unclear circumstances.
Initial reports indicated that Ms Eunice Wanjiru allegedly stabbed herself over a land dispute.
However doctors have dismissed the claims, saying the depth of the wound could not have been self-inflicted, raising suspicion that someone else had tried to kill her.
“From the depth of the knife and the state of the patient it is very unlikely that she stabbed herself and a third party could have been involved,” said Dr Ndegwa.
The widow was found lying face down in her home at Kamunyaka in Mathira with a kitchen knife stuck more than seven inches into her chest.
Family members who spoke to the Nation said that Ms Wanjiru had just taken her breakfast before she was found motionless by her daughter who has been living with her.
“I was going to give her morning medication when I found her lying on the floor.
“When I turned her over I noticed there was a knife in her chest,” said Ms Susan Wanjiru, the daughter.
Dr David Ndegwa, the medical superintendent at Karatina Level Four Hospital, displays an X-ray photo showing the knife stuck in Ms Wanjiru's chest. PHOTO | NICHOLAS KOMU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
FOUR-HOUR SURGERY
She was rushed to Karatina Level Four Hospital where she underwent a four-hour surgery to remove the knife.
Having conducted the surgery, the medical superintendent, Dr David Ndegwa said that the knife had penetrated into the abdomen damaging several vital organs.
He added that the victim had lost more than two pints of blood.
The granny, according to family members, had a mental disorder and had been discharged from the same hospital a few days ago.
However, Dr Ndegwa dismissed the claims of her being mentally ill, fuelling more suspicion that the woman could have been stabbed by someone else.
Dr Ndegwa said that there was no medical record indicating that the widow had a history or prior diagnosis of mental disorder.
The family is said to have been quarrelling over a piece of land that was left behind by the woman’s deceased husband.
The matter was forwarded to the Mathira East Police Division for further investigations but police said it was initially being treated as attempted suicide.
“As of now we are taking it as attempted suicide but this is subject to deeper investigations,” said Mr Matthew Gwiyo, the divisional police commander.
If proved that the widow indeed stabbed herself, she could face charges of attempted suicide, which is punishable by up to two years imprisonment.
The woman is currently recuperating at the Karatina hospital.
