At least three people, including a Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church elder, were stabbed to death in separate incidents over the weekend, in what police suspect to be love triangles.

In Homa Bay, a 35-year-old Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA) elder was stabbed to death by a fellow elder during a church service at Ramoya village, Samba sub-location in Suba South constituency.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the attack was linked to a love triangle saga, where the suspect accused the deceased of being in a love affair with his wife.

Police and witnesses said Francis Opiyo Kadedi, a church elder in Ebeneza SDA church, was stabbed using a knife at the altar in front the congregation. The knife was hidden in a bag the assailant had used to carry his bible to the pulpit.

Witnesses told police Kadedi was stabbed by his fellow elder a few minutes after preaching and giving reports, before the main sermon that was to be presided over by the church pastor.

According to Suba South Sub County Police commander Caxton Ndunda, Kadedi had concluded his session well and handed over to a fellow elder. It was then that the suspect walked to the altar and rearranged some seats before he removed a knife and stabbed Kadedi’s left side of the chest, where he collapsed on the spot.

Ndunda says the assailant accused Kadedi of being in a sexual relationship with his wife, who is also a church member.  After the attack, the suspect ran away and later surrendered to the area Assistant Chief to escape from the mob that was after his life.

Kadedi was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed while undergoing treatment. The body was moved to St Camillus Hospital Mortuary in Sori Town, Migori County pending autopsy. In another case the same Saturday, a 20-year-old expectant first-year student at Mawego National Polytechnic in Homa Bay County was stabbed to death by her boyfriend who is also a student in the same college.

Morning commotion

Sheryl Awino, a Land Survey student, was stabbed in her stomach with a kitchen knife which also led to the death of her unborn child.

According to the deceased student’s father, John Odongo, the daughter was rushed to Kendu Adventist Hospital where she died while undergoing treatment. The deceased was last with the boyfriend who visited her on Friday evening at the hostel.

“The two spent the night together but colleagues heard some commotion on Saturday at around 5am,” police said.

Rachuonyo North Police Commander Lydia Parteyie yesterday said investigations had been launched but the suspect, who has since been identified, was yet to be arrested.

The country has witnessed a surge in intimate partner killings, with most of these killings and violence perpetrated by men who are in family or intimate partner relationships.

Stabbing has been the most common mode of killing, according to a report titled ‘Masculinity and Intimate Partner Violence in Kenya’ by the National Crime Research Centre (NCRC).

In another case, police reported that a 27-year-old man was stabbed to death by a student of Asumbi Teachers Training College in Ogongo, Mbita Sub-County in Homa Bay county during a fight over a Form Four female student.

The victim, Boas Owino, died as he was being rushed to Homa Bay Referral Hospital. The two are said to have differed over who should have the student, according to the police.

“The suspect was immediately arrested and taken to Mbita Police station,” police said.