A somber mood has engulfed Cherelio village in Murkwijit area, West Pokot County, after a man allegedly killed his wife before taking his own life.

Benjamin Morogo Mutai, 53, is suspected of slitting the throat of his wife, Teresa Chepkemoi, 47, during a heated domestic dispute.

The couple’s lifeless bodies were discovered by neighbours who had become concerned after noticing an eerie silence from the usually bustling household.

Mike Kiprop, a close relative, narrated the heartbreaking scene they encountered. “We reached the home and found the woman still breathing outside the house,” he said. “She was bleeding with stab wounds all over her body. It seems like the man attacked her outside before hanging himself inside the house.”

Kiprop added, “We took her to the hospital hoping to save her life, but unfortunately, she died on the way.”

West Pokot Sub-County Police Commander Richard Omanga, confirming the incident, noted that investigation is underway to uncover the circumstances leading up to the tragedy.

“It appears to be a case of domestic violence that escalated to a tragic end,” said Commander Omanga. “We are conducting thorough investigations to determine the exact sequence of events.”

Commander Omanga detailed the events, saying, “The man stabbed his wife in the chest, leading to her death. After committing the heinous act, he hanged himself inside the house. We condemn such a bizarre incident.” He added that the couple had been having longstanding domestic disputes.

“We were at the police station thinking we had solved the issues. I called him the previous day asking if he would turn up at the police station on Tuesday morning to continue talks to end the long-term feud. But unfortunately, we woke up to this,” Sammy Moran told TV47 Digital.

He noted that close relatives had often been barred from interfering in their disputes, which reportedly stemmed from proceeds of selling milk and maize.

The bodies of Benjamin Morogo Mutai and Teresa Chepkemoi were taken to Kapenguria County Referral Hospital for postmortem examinations.

The tragedy underscores the urgent need for addressing domestic violence and providing resources to help families in crisis.

“This is a wake-up call for us to address domestic disputes seriously,” said Alice Chepkemoi, a local resident. “We need to provide more support and resources for families in conflict to prevent such tragic outcomes.”