Nakuru woman poisons children, kills herself

A village in Rongai, Nakuru County is in shock after a woman poisoned her four children, then killed herself following a domestic dispute with her husband.

The woman from Sumek village, poisoned the children in order to kill all of them, but luckily three of them survived.

After poisoning them, Ms Feny Koech is reported to have attempted to hack the children after they took time to die.

Ms Koech ran away after the children screamed for help.

Neighbours said they responded to the screams and found the children on the floor writhing in pain.

The youngest, who was two month old did not survive.

The other children were taken to hospital for medical attention.

Rongai police boss Japheth Kioko said woman committed suicide by throwing herself into a river.

Mr Kioko said investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Ms Koech’s neighbours who spoke to Nation said the couple had for a long time had marital disputes.

Ms Koech’s husband had accused her of having an extramarital affair with their employee.

“Her husband accused Ms Koech of having a love affair with their herdsboy and said the lastborn child was not his,” said Jackson Kimani, a Nyumba Kumi elder.

Mr Kimani said the couple’s dispute had worsened since the birth of the youngest child, as the husband kept complaining that he resembled the herdsboy.

“Last week they had a case at the chief’s office, it is not clear what was decided. We know that the husband moved from the main house and used to sleep in the kitchen,” said the elder.

Other neighbours said the dejection by her husband and post-partum depression took a toll on the Ms Koech.