Double Tragedy in Meru As Man Who Murdered Mother is Killed by Angry Mob While Fleeing
By Brian Gitonga
A great wave of shock and grief have grappled Kairune Village in Runogone Location, Meru County, after a twenty-one-year-old man allegedly murdered his mother by beheading her with a panga before an irate mob lynched him.
The shocking incident is said to have occurred after a short confrontation when the woman questioned her son after finding him chewing sugar cane in the house.
According to family members and residents, the young man, identified as Nimrod Murithi, is said to have had a history of petty theft and suspected drug abuse.
Elias Mbajo, the slain woman’s husband, said he returned home from tending to his animals only to find that his son had killed his mother by chopping her neck. He said that his son had forcibly detached the door to the house while his mother was away, sparking a confrontation. When the woman returned and questioned him about the sugarcane and the damage to the door, a violent confrontation broke out.
“My wife came back to find that he (the son) had removed the door to the house. When she confronted him over the incident, he took a panga and went after her. She tried to run, but he pursued her and killed her,” said a sobbing Elias.
Eyewitnesses said the young man attacked his mother, then threw her head into a nearby pit latrine before running away. News of the incident spread quickly before an angry mob of villagers pursued him.
The man was spotted in Karegeria, a few kilometers from the scene where an angry mob caught him before descending on him with kicks, blows, and stones. Killing him instantly.
“This young man was running away after killing his mother, and when he got to this point, an angry mob spotted him. They captured him and descended on him with kicks, blows, and stones, killing him on the spot,” narrated one of the eyewitnesses.
Collins Kimathi, a youth from Runogone, raised concerns over the increasing cases of mental health issues among the youth, linking it to the rising cases of petty crimes in the area. He urged law enforcement to strengthen security and address underlying issues affecting young people, including possible drug abuse and mental instability.
Confirming the incident, Elijah Mlama, the Assistant County Commissioner in charge of Kiathandi, expressed sorrow over the matter as he urged members of the public to avoid taking the law into their own hands.
“This is a very sad incident after a young man killed his mother and ran away, prompting members of the public to pursue him and later lynch him. We are telling society to stop taking matters into their own hands and instead let justice have its way,” said Elijah.
Police have collected the two bodies and taken them to the Meru Level Five Hospital Morgue for preservation as the family grapples to come to terms with the incident.
