A middle-aged woman is nursing deep cuts after being attacked with a panga by her estranged husband in the Kaharati area of Murang’a County.
The victim recounted that her husband, now on the run, ambushed her while she was on her way to the market where she runs a grocery business.
He struck her on the head where she sustained minor injuries. Her hands were, however, severely injured during the process since she used them to block the panga from landing on her head.
The attack, she alleged, was premeditated since he had always threatened her that he would harm and “kill” her, after their separation in July.
“We have been having arguments and when we separated, he started to threaten that he would physically assault and kill me. I never thought he would act on his threats until the attack happened,” she said.
Despite receiving treatment at the Murang'a Level 5 Hospital, she said she cannot go back to her normal working lifestyle, since her left hand requires a surgical intervention which will involve the insertion of a metal implant in her hand, a procedure she said she cannot afford.
"I am a mother of three who relies solely on my grocery job to provide for my family. After treatment, I was informed that my right hand would require a metal implant, costing a significant amount of money, which I do not have," she said.
Everlyn Wairimu, her neighbour, urged the government to improve security in the area to protect women from similar attacks.
She called on organisations advocating for women's rights to support victims of domestic abuse and reduce cases of depression among women physically assaulted by their spouses.
“Husbands are abusing their wives and the government and human rights organisations should do more to support and create awareness about the plight of domestically abused women,” Wairimu said.
She appealed to the police to expedite the search for the suspect to prevent future harm.
