Police in Mbeere South sub-county are investigating circumstances under which a 26-year-old man hacked his 24-year-old wife to death in Kenya.

This incident happened on November 12, 2024, in Iravari village, Mbeere South Sub-county of Embu county in Kenya.

The deceased, identified as Gladys Thaara, was hacked to death by her husband, Genesio Fundi, with a machete in front of their children, aged nine and five.

Initial reports show that Fundi was living in harmony with his family and neighbors; however, two months ago he was diagnosed with a mental illness, which was caused by drug abuse.

According to Njeru Magara, one of the neighbors, Fundi had previously maintained a good relationship with the community and run a small business; however, when he developed mental health issues, he stopped working.

Magara added that they heard screams for help from Fundi’s compound, and upon inspection, they saw him chasing his wife with a machete and hacked her to death in the presence of his children.

’’The couple’s two children (aged 9 and 5) escaped the wrath of their father by locking themselves in their bedroom, but not before witnessing him killing their mother in cold blood,’’ Magara stated.

Stephen Nyaga, the brother of the suspect, revealed that he had informed local authorities about Fundi’s criminal behaviors on multiple occasions; however, the police and local authorities did not take action.

Nyaga said that this tragedy would have been avoided if only security and local leaders listened to his warnings.

In an interview with journalists, Harrison Muthua, the Mbeere South sub-county police commander, revealed that the couple’s children survived being killed because the neighbors rushed to the scene to rescue them from their raging father.

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He added that after killing his wife, Fundi injured his farm worker and fled off on a motorcycle before surrendering himself to Kiritiri Police Station.

’’We have Fundi in our custody, and investigations are underway to ascertain what made him hack his wife Thaara to death; however, he is going to be charged with manslaughter,” Muthua noted.

In 2024, Kenya will have had many cases of femicide, highlighting the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence in the country.

These cases reflect a concerning trend of escalating violence against women in Kenya, necessitating immediate action from both government and civil society to protect vulnerable individuals and promote gender equality.