A sombre mood engulfed the home of Elijah Matoke following reports of his untimely demise after he was doused with acid inside his house on Wednesday, December 11.
According to Matoke’s neighbours, the victim cried for help following a dispute with his wife.
“Hiyo siku asubuhi, mimi nilikuwa nimelala kwangu, mlango wangu na wake ni next. Nikasikia nduru ‘wooi mnisaidie’ ya kwanza, ya pili, ya tatu nikajua kuna shida. Nikatoka nikaenda, kufika nikafungua curtains nikamuona anakaa pink. Nikauliza watoto ni nini imefanyikia baba yenu? Wakasema hatujui ni nani amemwagia acid,” Lilian Magomere, one of Matoke’s neighbours, said.
The late Matoke and his wife are said to have lived together for 3 years. The neighbours said the two had been embroiled in domestic disputes for a long time, only for the wrangles to turn tragic on Wednesday.
“Hii mapenzi yao haijakuwa mapenzi ya pesa, nimekuwa nikisolve issues kwa hii nyumba several times, kuna wakati mwingine nimekuja huku, kama Matoke hana pesa, Matoke sio mwanaume wa nyumba,” Benard Angwenyi, Matoke’s brother, pointed out.
“Ilikuwa around 6:40 nikiwa kwangu Kericho nikapigiwa simu na uncle akaniuliza umeongea na daddy? Akasema hebu kimbia huko mambo sio mazuri,” Clarice Matoke, Matoke’s daughter, noted.Matoke was rushed to hospital but succumbed to the injuries four days later. Police are investigating the matter before the two are taken to court to answer the charges.
“We have already arrested the wife and the son, and they are in custody helping us with the investigation and once we are done we will charge with murder,” Anderson Njagi, Nakuru West OCPD, highlighted.
