Evelyne Mukiri, a member of the North Imenti Constituency Development Fund (CDF) committee, was murdered at her home in Chabuene village, Imenti East, on August 7. The murder was carried out by a man who walked into her home and asked for a cup of water as she prepared supper with her 13-year-old grandson. This brutal killing has sent shockwaves through the community, and investigations have been ongoing to uncover the motive behind the crime.
Following weeks of intense investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), two more suspects have been arrested in connection with Mukiri's murder. Godwin Kimathi, Mukiri's brother, and Beth Muthomi, a sister to the first prime suspect, Solomon Kathurima, and Mukiri's sister-in-law, were arrested and arraigned before the Meru Law Courts. They were remanded at Meru GK Prison pending mental assessments and plea-taking on November 4.
According to police reports, the motive for the murder was a long-standing land dispute within the family. Mukiri's father, the late Gilbert Mwamba, had allocated parcels of land to each of his six children, but her brothers opposed their sisters getting a share of their father's land, sparking a dispute. Mukiri had pushed for the succession process to be concluded so that they could get title deeds for their land, but her share of the land was sold by her brother, prompting her to go to court.
The court ruled in Mukiri's favor, but her brother and sister-in-law allegedly hatched a plot to eliminate her. They reached out to Kathurima, a serial offender who had previously been charged with murder, and procured his services to execute the offence. The police believe that Mukiri's sister-in-law played a significant role in procuring the services of her brother to carry out the murder.
During the arrest of the first suspect, detectives recovered a blood-stained machete believed to have been used in the fatal attack. Kathurima was later positively identified in a police identification parade as the man behind the fatal attack. The police also found that the two suspects were in constant communication before and after the commission of the offence.
Meru County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO) Abednego Kavoo revealed that the land dispute was the primary motive for the murder. He explained that Mukiri's brother and sister-in-law conspired to murder her due to the long-standing land dispute and procured the services of Kathurima to execute the offence.
The murder of Evelyne Mukiri has highlighted the dangers of family disputes and the importance of resolving conflicts peacefully. The case is ongoing, and the suspects will face justice in the coming days. The family and community have been left to mourn the loss of a prominent member, and the incident serves as a reminder of the need for peaceful resolution of disputes.
Key points
- A land dispute within the family is believed to be the motive behind the murder of Evelyne Mukiri.
- Two suspects, Godwin Kimathi and Beth Muthomi, have been arrested in connection with Mukiri's murder.
- The murder highlights the dangers of family disputes and the importance of resolving conflicts peacefully.
