Two children in Kwamunyanzu area of Kiomo location in Mwingi central have lost their lives after a 40 year-old-man attacked them while on the farm with their mother.
Zakayo Ruth attacked the woman, 30, and her two children aged four and 10 years using a panga as they were going about their day on the farm.
The incident left the ten-year-old dead on the spot while the four-year-old succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment at Mwingi level 4 hospital.
Peter Mutuma, the Mwingi Central Sub-county Police Commander, confirmed the incident stating that although the exact cause was not established, the incident may have been accelerated by a land dispute.
The area Chief Benedeta Wamuo said the suspect, who bought the land from the woman’s brother-in-law, was new in the area.
“He has not stayed around this place for long, the woman’s brother-in-law had sold the piece of land to the man,” the chief stated.
The administrator added that the footsteps of the accused were traced up to a nearby hill where the locals have camped in search of him.
Muthui Mathuki, the victim’s husband, expressed that he can’t figure out what transpired for his neighbour to hack his family members.
“I have three children and one escaped death narrowly when he ran away and informed me that his two siblings and mother had been attacked by our neighbour,” he said.
Muthui added that on the same day, he and his wife had fetched water for him.
“We usually fetched water for him with my wife every daily as he is still new in the area,” he added.
He said the man came from Karatina before settling in the area after his brother sold him the piece of land.
“I’m in so much pain and I want the government to intervene and ensure this man faces the law,” he added.
The mother is currently nursing serious injuries at the same hospital while the bodies of the children were moved to the facility’s morgue.
