Amateur runner detained over wife’s murder

A local amateur runner has surrendered to his area chief in Nandi North sub-county after he allegedly killed his estranged wife, local police have confirmed.

The suspect, Benjamin Serem and a father of four children, walked to the Sang’alo’s assistant chief’s office to report that he had killed his wife Caroline Jerotich following a family dispute.

Serem, a former Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) game ranger based in Kapsabet town, is said to have been upset by his wife’s action to ditch him over constant threats to her life.

Nandi North police boss Simon Muli said that on the fateful Sunday, the suspect went with his wife to church and that as the preaching was going on, the deceased sneaked out while accompanied with another woman.

Surrendered

When her husband noticed that she was not in the church, he started to follow her quickly before catching up with her in a forested area.

“He started beating his wife until she became unconscious despite pleas from the woman who had accompanied her to stop assaulting the deceased. He became wild and turned his anger on his wife’s friend forcing her to flee from the scene,” added Muli.

On noting the magnitude of the injuries he had caused on his wife, the suspect ordered for a motorbike which ferried her to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital while in critical condition.

The woman succumbed to the injuries a few hours later while receiving treatment.

“When the chief informed us that a man had surrendered to his office in connection with the killing of his wife, I dispatched police officers to arrest him and then held him in custody at Kabiyet police station,” said Muli. According to the police, the deceased, 36, had deep injuries on the hands and neck.

Recorded statements

The accused, Muli said, has already been taken to court in Kapsabet for miscellaneous application pending investigations. The court has directed that the suspect be detained at Kapsabet Central police station until September 20 when he will be brought back to court for further directions.

Police have recorded statements from several witnesses including the deceased’s mother and her uncle.