Naivasha ‘vampire’ narrates attack ordeal

Mr Geoffrey Njoroge Matheri alias Fongo winces in obvious pain as he narrates his ordeal at the hands of his attackers, two days after he was released from Naivasha Maximum Prison.

The prison was his home for the last five years since he was charged with kidnapping women. His story hit headlines in 2008, with claims that he had been kidnapping, raping, drugging, draining and drinking blood from his victims, most of whom were women. Before his arrest, he confessed to detectives that he was a serial killer.

On Tuesday, we found Mr Matheri at the Naivasha District Hospital where he was admitted on Sunday evening after he was attacked at his Rwanyambo village in South Kinangop.

Coy of the clicking cameras, Mr Matheri, who was acquitted by a Nakuru High Court last Friday over lack of evidence of the alleged crimes, protested at being photographed, blocking his face, before a medic intervened. Eventually, he relaxed.

His blood shot eyes kept roving sideways and was edgy anytime a stranger approached his bed.

With visible injuries on the head and leg, the former inmate and street urchin struggled to explain how he got injured and laid the blame on police officers.

But his uncle, Mr Peter Matheri, differed with him, saying they were not sure who attacked him as he was yet to arrive home when he was beaten.

“We hear it was two police officers and some villagers, assertions that we are yet to verify,” he said.

EMBRACED CHRISTIANITY

It has since emerged that upon his release from the prison, Mr Matheri had not headed straight to his relatives. He had, instead, gone to Rwanyambo Primary School, where he had been staying for the weekend. Witnesses said he would light a fire in the evenings.

Mr Peter told the Nation he only knew that Mr Matheri had been freed after he was called by a local assistant chief and told about the attack. “I was informed that he had suffered serious injuries and dumped at a thicket. I rushed to the scene and found out it was true. We organised to take him to hospital,” he said.

But what Mr Matheri and his uncle were in agreement is that he has changed and embraced Christianity since he was put behind bars more than four years ago. “I am now a born again Christian and those vampire-like tendencies are a thing of the past,” he told the Nation.

Mr Matheri, who now insists he is fully transformed, said he committed the evil acts after he was instructed by a local bishop, but had since repented.

Before he was attacked on Sunday, he had attended a service at his local church. He sat at the back row as he listened to the day’s sermon.

 But according to a relative who sought anonymity, residents cornered Mr Matheri on the first day he ventured out of the house. “He spent two days in the house saying he was afraid of being seen by people and was fearing for his life,” said the relative, claiming some of the attackers were police.

The Medical Superintendent at Naivasha District Hospital, Dr Joseph Mburu, said Mr Matheri was out of danger and would be discharged after one of his broken legs is fitted with a plaster.