A woman reportedly killed her husband before hanging herself in Kamacuku village, Tharaka Nithi County.
The body of Moses Kirimi Mati, who is a Chuka University architect and head of the estates department, was found in a pool of blood at the parking lot of his homestead on Monday morning.
Later the body of his wife, Pamela Wanja was found hanging from the balcony of their four storey building
Next to Mati’s body there was a blood-stained metal rod believed to have been used to hit him on the head several times, damaging his skull. Wanja’s clothes and a Toyota double-cabin pickup parked near Mati’s body also had bloodstains.
Police officer moreover discovered a suicide note believed to have been written by Wanja before she hanged herself and apologizing to their three children for the deaths.
Maara sub-county Police Commander Mohammed Jarso said CCTV footage at the building captured the scuffle that happened on Sunday night.
“We have discovered a suicide note with the names of their three children with an apology and our preliminary investigations show that it was written by the Pamela Wanja the wife before killing herself by hanging using a rope,” said Commander Jarso.
The officer said cases of spouses killing each other were on the rise in the region and urged married partners to separate instead of killing someone or resorting to suicide.
He said murder or suicide is not a solution to domestic differences because children and relatives are left suffering.
“This is a young family and the children who are in primary school have been left total orphans,” he said.
The management of Chuka University has sent condolences to the family and encouraged members of staff with family disputes to seek counselling before things get out of hand.
“The university management has learned with great sadness and sorrow of the passing on of Architect Moses Kirimi Mati who until his death this Monday was the university’s Architect and Head of the Estates Department,” said an internal memo signed by Prof Henry M’ Ikiugu, the deputy vice-chancellor for administration, finance planning and development.
They also described the late architect as a social man who made friends with several people at the university and outside.
Residents said that Mati attended Sunday service at a church near Chuka University and the couple were later seen at a prominent hotel in Marima market full of joy.
Later on Charity Karimi, who was a friend of Mr Mati, said that she had attended the same church together with the couple for several years and she did not know about their domestic differences.
“The two have been attending church together with their children and we know them as a happy couple,” Karimi said.
A psychologist, who is also a university lecturer, said lack of proper communication between married partners was to blame for most cases of domestic violence.
The professional, who sought anonymity because of her relationship with the deceased man, said instead of involving a counsellor, many couples remain silent, leading to depression.
The psychologist added that many young couples have embraced ‘infidelity fashion’ with their social media friends, resulting in domestic violence.
BY:LYDIA WAHU