Kenya Newspapers Review: Kitui Man Attacks, Kills Girlfriend Over KSh 11k

On Saturday, August 19, the local dailies highlighted some talking points from the 8th Devolution Conference held in Eldoret.

The dailies also reported the government's decision to deregister five churches, including Good News International Ministries, linked to Paul Mackenzie and New Life Prayer Centre owned by pastor Ezekiel Odero.

1. The Star

The daily reported that a Kitui man hacked his middle-aged girlfriend with a machete over KSh 11,500.

Mutati Mwaniki from Kiima village in Kyuso sub-county allegedly killed Mary Nzambi, a mother of eight, by stabbing and slashing her severally with a panga.

Kamuwongo area chief, Mary Mwende, said Mwaniki was living with Nzambi as her girlfriend for a long while, and they had a child together. She said the woman’s husband was long dead.

"I was informed that Mwaniki was bitter with Nzambi after she denied him access to the KSh 11,500 monthly support from Red Cross Society, and he threatened to eliminate her," the chief said.

Mwende said differences between the two arose when Nzambi changed her mind and registered her own phone number to receive the funds directly, unlike before when she used to receive them on Mwaniki's phone.

“When it became clear to Mwaniki that he will no longer receive the money through his phone, he turned against his girlfriend and threatened to teach her a lesson,” the chief said.

Armed with a sharp machete, the chief said that Mwaniki visited Nzambi's home very early on Wednesday, August 16 and hacked her to death.

Although he went into hiding after the heinous act, he was cornered by residents who attacked him. Mwaniki died as he was being taken to hospital.

2. Daily Nation

The paper reported that the government had deregistered five churches, including Good News International Ministries linked to suspected cult leader Paul Mackenzie and New Life Prayer Centre owned by pastor Ezekiel Odero.

In a Friday, August 18 gazette notice, Registrar of Societies Maria Nyariki listed the five churches among six societies whose registration has been cancelled.

The other churches deregistered are Helicopter of Christ, Theophilus and Kings Outreach Helicopter is associated with Thomas Wahome.

Mackenzie is reported to have forced members of his church to fast to death. The corpses are being exhumed from graves in Shakahola, Kilifi County.

Wahome was recently linked to grabbing riparian land in Lang'ata and building iron sheet houses on the same piece.

According to the city-devolved government, the temporary occupation licence for the church was cancelled in 2016. Authorities say the county is reclaiming its land.

3. The Standard

The publication reported that the search for a pistol used to kill Makadara DCI officer David Mayaka continues days after police arrested the man believed to be the prime suspect in the killing.

Investigators from the Nairobi area Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (Crib) have been combing the Kayole area in search of the weapon.

On Tuesday, August 15, the investigators arrested a 23-year-old man said to have been riding the motorbike that was used in the shooting of the DCI officer.

A spotlight mounted on the getaway motorbike led detectives to Kiambu, where the suspect was arrested.

Detectives familiar with the investigations said that after studying CCTV footage from the neighbourhood, police were able to pick the motorbike's details and the unique light mounted on it.

The suspect led police to another house, where they arrested a building caretaker who allegedly helped the suspect hide the motorbike.