Police in Kisumu East have launched a manhunt for a man who viciously attacked his 24-year-old ex-girlfriend for allegedly leaving him for another man in Kenya.
The incident happened on April 18, 2025, late in the evening in Nyakbong’ village of Kamujulu, and the suspect identified has been identified as Sebi Obonyo.
The identity of the victim was withheld per her request.
Preliminary reports show that Obonyo was not happy with his ex-girlfriend’s new love life until he attacked her at her allegedly current boyfriend’s house, violently stabbed her, and left her with life-threatening injuries.
According to the Kenya Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) statement, the suspect found the woman alone and launched a brutal attack, deeply stabbing her twice, once on her left ear and again in the chest, using a sharp object believed to be a knife.
The DCI revealed the woman’s cries for help drew the attention of nearby residents, who rushed to the scene and frightened the attacker into fleeing. Their swift action is believed to have saved the victim’s life.
’’The victim is currently admitted at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in critical condition, but once she regains her strength, she will also aid in our investigations,’’ read the DCI statement.
The Kisumu East Sub-County Police Commander in Kenya, Mr. Douglas K. Kithure, added that authorities are working closely with residents in a bid to locate and arrest the suspect, who remains at large.
Kithure also revealed that preliminary reports and statements from the victim’s former neighbors suggest Obonyo was deeply bitter and hurt after the relationship ended and had reportedly shown signs of emotional distress.
’’All these statements and other evidence will aid our investigations and will be presented in court once the suspect is apprehended,” Kithure added.
He further thanked the neighbors for acting fast and saving the victim’s life despite the grave state she was left in by her attacker.
The brutal attack has drawn widespread condemnation from local leaders and human rights advocates. Many are calling for swift justice and increased efforts to combat gender-based violence (GBV) in the region.
’’No one deserves to be attacked for choosing their own path. We must protect our women and ensure such suspects face the full force of the law,” said Grace Achieng, a GBV advocate in Kisumu County.
Nationally, 129 women were killed between January and March 2025, with Kisumu among counties recording high rates of murders involving unidentified perpetrators. Domestic violence (50% of cases) and intimate partner conflicts (25%) are the primary drivers of these cases.
With the victim still fighting for her life in the hospital, her story now symbolizes the urgent need to address emotional violence before it escalates into physical harm and to ensure justice is delivered for those whose voices are often silenced by fear.
