Evil spirits? Shock, grief as Gatundu man beheads uncle

Residents of Kiriko village in Gatundu North, Kiambu County, are reeling in shock after a middle-aged man allegedly beheaded his uncle.

George Wairegi, 28, reportedly attacked his 47-year-old uncle, John Kamau, with a machete after the two got embroiled in an argument.

The deceased had allegedly called out the suspect for scolding his younger sister who was going back to a nearby school.

Police officers guard 28-year-old suspect George Wairegi, who survived mob justice in Kiriko village. PHOTO | TV47

David Ng’ang’a, a neighbour who witnessed the bizarre killing, said he was alerted by distress calls and rushed to check what was happening.

He said he found the deceased lying in a pool of blood with his head severed from the body while the suspect was standing holding a machete with his clothes soaked in blood.

Distraught residents at the homestead in Kiriko village, where a 48-year-old man was killed by his niece. PHOTO | TV47

Constant arguments

Ng’ang’a noted that soon after, other locals responded and managed to tie the suspect with ropes while subjecting him to a dog’s beating. He was however rescued from the mob that was baying for his blood by police officers.

Kinuthia Mwangi, a resident, noted that the deceased had deep cuts in his stomach and back.

Mwangi disclosed that the two have been in constant arguments, adding that the deceased had warned the suspect against stepping his foot in the homestead. The suspect lives in a rented house a few meters from the home.

Evil spirits?

Lucy Njoki, another resident, said that the suspect is not a drunkard and neither does he engage in substance abuse adding that he is only suspected to be of unsound mind.

Njoki, who’s also a family member said that the deceased’s family has been haunted by evil spirits for many years adding that countless prayer meetings held in the home have been futile.

The locals also raised alarm over the increased tendency of young men roaming the villages armed with machetes saying that they are the ones perpetrating crimes including livestock and farm produce theft.

Gituamba Ward MCA Francis Murima called on residents to embrace dialogue and mediation in solving their disputes instead of killing or maiming each other.

The suspect was whisked away by police officers and taken to Thika Level Five Hospital while the deceased’s body was taken to General Kago Funeral Home in Thika.