Kiss of death: Remembering the women before Sharon

Sharon Otieno’s murder after a love affair with Okoth Obado, Governor for Migori County, has rocked the nation. This week, Soni Kanake takes us down memory lane to look at other women who have lost their lives for following their hearts.

The grotesque murder of student Sharon Otieno brings to the fore sad memories of women who have died in the name of love. Our courtrooms are full of records, some dating back to over two decades.

Some of those files are closed, and others are still being investigated. We might never understand what goes through the murderer's mind but they certainly leave a trail of crushed hearts. We take a look at some women who were killed by their husbands or lovers.

GRACE NJERI

Njeri was married to Erastus Kibage Mwangi, a 44-year-old matatu driver and together they had two children.

The lives of Grace and the children were cut short allegedly by the man they loved.

The sad incident happened in Muthure village in Wangige Kabete in Kiambu County in mid-2017. The magnitude of his grotesque actions was only discovered when neighbours complaining of a foul smell coming from Njeri’s house. Upon investigation, the bodies of Njeri, 30, and those of her 11-year-old daughter, Joy Wangari and five-year-old son, Maxwell Wachira were discovered in the house.

The neighbours said the Mwangis always appeared to be a happy family and they had never heard them fight. It baffled them how a seemingly polite man would choose to end his family’s life in such a heartless manner. According to reports by one of the dailies, the commanding police division, Joseph Ongaya, revealed that the three family members were murdered using the steering rod of a vehicle that was found lying in the sitting room, which had blood stains on them. The bodies, which were beginning to decompose, were found in the sitting room in a sitting position with injuries on their heads and chests. All evidence pointing towards Mwangi, the police were hot on his heels. Unfortunately, we might never know what transpired as Mwangi committed suicide by hanging himself in a lodging in Kutus, Kirinyaga County.

JOYCE WANGARI

In June 2016, the residents of Thika were thrown into total shock when a man murdered his wife by stabbing her 18 times! According to reports in one of the dailies, it wasn’t the first time George Njenga, 35, was attempting to kill his wife, Joyce Wangari, 32. He had waylaid her the previous month and tried stabbing her with a knife. On the fateful day, however, the two quarreled and Njenga stabbed his wife repeatedly. The neighbours were unable to save her as the husband locked the door from inside. They found Wangari’s lifeless body on the floor with Njenga still holding the murder weapon.

During investigations, the neighbours said that they were shocked because they knew Njenga as a quiet man who they never could have imagined would commit such a heinous crime. The crime left their three-year-old girl without a mother.

SALOME KANINI

This year began on a sad note for Salome Kanini, who died as a result of burns inflicted on her by her estranged husband, Stanley Nduati.

Kanini’s husband had separated with her in October, 2017. Nduati, who was a PSV driver prying the Kiserian-Nairobi route, lured Kanini to her death in the pretext that he wanted her to collect some money for their child’s uniform from his house in Ongata Rongai. Kanini had moved back to her mother’s house in Kiserian.

Upon arrival, Nduati suddenly became violent, pulling Kanini into the house and locking it. He descended on her with kicks and blows beating her mercilessly. Her brother who had accompanied her tried to rescue his sister but was stabbed with a knife. It is believed that Nduati tied up Kanini before setting her ablaze.

When the neighbours finally managed to break into the house, she had already received severe burns. Doctors fought to save Kanini’s life but they were unable to as she had suffered 80 per cent burns and she succumbed to her injuries on 10th January, 2018 at the Kenyatta National Hospital leaving behind two children.

SUSAN MUKOBERO

Her name might not quite ring a bell but she was the wife of Jamin Mukobero, a man who was reported to have butchered nine family members and injuring six others one chilly night in April 2001. Mukobero, who was 43 at the time, was a mason trying to make ends meet and was said to have admitted that it was becoming impossible to provide for his family. At the time of her murder, his wife Susan was expecting their ninth child. Susan wasn't employed and was at home raising her family.

Her husband who hailed from Kakamega, was described by neighbours and those close to him as 'calm and kind'. However, on April 29, Mukobero went berserk and hacked his wife with a machete. Mukobero was on a killing spree as he killed four of his eight children and three other family members on the same night. It was not clear why he turned murderous that night though it was alleged that the then mason was finding it impossible to feed his large family. Mukobero was convicted and is serving time at Kodiaga Maximum Security Prison in Kisumu.

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Red flags your spouse could turn murderous

Dr Margaret Kagwe, a counselling psychologist and senior consultant at Esteem Counselling Services, helps us get into the mind of a potential spouse killer.

1. Verbal threats

Never ignore or try to justify death threats from your significant other. It could only be a matter of time before they actualise their threats. To be on the safe side, always take such threats seriously.

2. Loss of meaning in life

When a spouse who enjoyed living and was active in his daily activities no longer finds meaning in life, it could be a bad sign as he is unlikely to value yours either.

3. Are they disturbed?

 If he or she is disturbed and rejects help or the desire to talk about his worries then it could be a time bomb.

4. Bizarre activities

If you see unusual activities or any purchases that may indicate preparation for such an act, it's time to act very fast. If for instance he buys weapons or poisons without any justification, it might be time to run.

5. Drug abuse

 If your spouse begins to abuse drugs and suddenly becomes aggressive, he can easily commit murder even without a plan for instance when he is under a hallucinogenic episode.

6. Sudden interest in horror movies

Another sign is what they take interest in; for instance, they may suddenly begin watching horror movies and fantasise about killing or dying.

7. Self-harm

If they start doing things that harm themselves, it could indicate they are troubled as self-harm is also a red flag.

8. Extreme jealousy

 If your spouse is the jealous type and keeps accusing you and saying no one else can have you, he could ensure you are dead before you leave.

9. Reverse psychology

He may also accuse you of planning to kill him to disorient you or to gauge your reaction.

10. Hasty decisions

 If you are having a rocky affair and he suddenly decides to take life insurance for both of you, think twice.

11. Look out for any unexplained occurrences that may have fatally harmed you had they succeeded, for example fires and accidents where he was closely involved. They may have been set ups rather than accidents.