Man strangles girlfriend, 25, using belt

A 30-year-old man from Nakuru County committed suicide on Friday, July 31 after killing his 25-year-old girlfriend.

Zacharia Njuguna Chege fatally strangled Beatrice Wangari Karanja using a belt before hanging himself from a manila rope tied to a tree in Naishi Village, Muthira Sub-Location, Njoro Constituency in Nakuru.

Chege committed suicide at his neighbour’s farm, Muthira assistant chief, Moses Muniu, told K24 Digital.

“The couple had visited Chege’s aunt on Thursday, July 30. The two, however, went missing from home on Thursday evening. On Friday noon (July 31), the partners were found dead in a farm belonging to Chege’s neighbour,” said Muniu.

Wangari’s father, Benjamin Karanja Kamau, told K24 Digital that his distressed wife informed him that their daughter had called to say she had been abducted by her boyfriend, who works as a matatu tout in Nakuru Town.

“I tried calling the cellphone line they used to reach my wife, but my daughter’s abductor was not receiving the calls,” said Kamau.

In Friday mid-morning, Chege is reported to have called the victim’s sister and told her that he and Wangari were escaping towards Nyahururu.

“My daughter was put on the speaker, and her sister could hear her crying. The caller, thereafter, switched off his phone,” said Kamau.

The victim’s father said his abducted daughter worked as a phone and sim card trader in Langalanga area, Nakuru Town. It is suspected Wangari and Chege met while going about their businesses in Nakuru Town.

It remains unclear why Chege killed Wangari before taking his own life.

Subukia MCA, Mary Waiganjo, who is a friend of Wangari’s parents, said the deceased had wounds below her left ankle and hand, indicating she had been burnt on the parts before being killed.

“The girl must have been brutally tortured and thereafter killed,” said Waiganjo.

The ward representative described the Late Wangari as a focused woman, who led the praise and worship team at the Jesus Exaltation Centre (JEC) in Subukia.

Wangari’s body was taken to Nakuru County Referral Hospital morgue, whereas that of Chege was taken to Egerton Funeral Home.

Chege’s family allege they have received threats from Wangari’s family, who have vowed to avenge her death.

Muthira assistant chief Moses Muniu says he has received reports about the alleged planned revenge, and that authorities will swing into action to avert such an occurrence.