A man in Bungoma county, who is believed to be a church elder, is suspected of killing his wife and hiding the body in a trench behind his house.
Gerald Kamanga is said to have killed Margaret Kamanga in Wamunyiri village, Kanduyi constituency, then fled but has reportedly since been arrested in Nyandarua.
Speaking to the media yesterday, village elder James Nabukuli said the tragedy was reported to him on Monday night.
“I was alerted by the locals yesterday at around 8pm that one of my villagers has killed his wife and escaped,” he said.
The villager elder said he contacted the assistant chief, who rushed to the scene of crime and later called the police officers from the Bungoma police station.
Nabukuli said that on reaching the scene of the crime, they found the wife's body lying in a pool of blood covered with blanket, sheet and clothes, but no family member was at home.
He added that the body sustained serious injuries on the back of the head.
“It seems he used a sharp object to kill her. She had blood all over the body,” Nabukuli said.
He said the house where the couple stay had been locked.
He, however, noted that the two have been staying in peace with the neighbours, saying the bizarre incident has shocked many.
“We have stayed with the two for almost a year because they just joined us recently after procuring this plot,” he said.
“They have been relating with us well. I have never received a complaint from them or the neighbours.”
He said the family has three children, and most of the time they stayed with their lastborn.
“We have stayed with these people in peace, they have never quarrelled,” he said.
Nabukuli said that they have received reports from the police station that the suspect has been arrested in Nyandarua county, trying to commit suicide.
He said the reason that caused the suspect to kill his wife is unknown.
Bishop Elijah Daniel of Victory Church said the suspect and the deceased are well known to the church, adding that they are shocked with the incident.
Elijah confirmed that the suspect is an elder in his Victory Church in Bungoma, adding that he has known the duo as church-loving people.
County police commander Francis Kooli said he received reports on Monday night informing him about the murder.
Kooli said that after committing the act, the suspect escaped to Kipipiri in Nyandarua county.
According to the reports received from the police in Nyandarua county, the suspect also wanted to commit suicide by use of poison.
Kooli said the suspect is currently under police watch as he awaits to answer to judges in court.
He asked couples to seek amicable ways of solving marriage conflicts.