Daniel Gichira is accused of killing his 48-year-old wife, Ann Nyawira, at their home in Gichugu before dumping her body near Kabare Shopping Centre along the Kutus-Kimunye road, approximately 500 meters from their homestead.
The body was discovered on Monday after she went missing on Saturday.
Her brother, David Ndege, said they became concerned when they could not reach her and questioned Gichira about her whereabouts.
“He told us she had gone to her sister’s home in Mwea,” Ndege said. “We went to Mwea to look for her, but she was not there.”
The family, including Ndege and the deceased’s sister Nancy Wambui, were planning to report her missing and begin a search when they received phone calls informing them of a dumped woman’s body in the area.
They rushed to the scene and positively identified the body.
News of the discovery spread quickly, drawing angry residents to the couple’s home, where they found Gichira in his living room watching television.
“He was just watching TV as if nothing happened,” Wakabari said. The mob flushed him out of the house. Traffic police officers who were on patrol along the road intervened and rescued him before he was lynched.
Gichugu Sub-County Police Commander Johnson Wachira confirmed the arrest and said investigations had been taken over by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
“A weapon suspected to have been used in the murder was recovered at the suspect’s homestead,” Wachira said.
“We are treating this as a homicide and the DCI is piecing together the evidence.”
Residents and relatives who accessed the house intimated that blood stains were found on two bed pillows, and also on a panga believed to be the murder weapon.
“There are a lot of blood stains all over the house, even on the electric switch, and a blood-stained bedsheet in the toilet,” Wakabari added.
Police say Gichira, after his arrest, allegedly told investigators that he killed his wife on Saturday evening following a dispute over the sale of the cow. He is said to have sold the animal the same day to brokers in Kutus town for Ksh. 80,000.
At the time of his arrest, he had Ksh.14,000 remaining in his pocket.
Family members and neighbours said the cow at the center of the dispute belonged to Ann Nyawira and had acquired it through a local women’s group merry-go-round, and she was against selling it.
“Ann worked hard for that cow. She got it through our women’s group. She told him she was not selling it,” said Nancy Wambui.
Residents are now demanding protection from domestic violence and calling for swift justice.
The body of the deceased has been moved to Kerugoya County Referral Hospital mortuary awaiting a postmortem.
Meanwhile, the suspect is being held at Kianyaga Police Station awaiting arraignment.
