Ruaraka man allegedly beats up, breaks pregnant wife’s limbs for ‘returning home late’

Police in Ruaraka, Nairobi are holding a youthful man over allegations that he battered and injured his five-month pregnant wife for “returning home late”.

Ferdinand Geoffrey Ombulu allegedly inflicted grievous bodily harm on his wife, Damaris Wanja, on Tuesday last week.

Appearing before Makadara Chief Magistrate Heston Nyaga last Thursday, Ombulu said he beat up his wife because she returned home at 11pm, which he [Ombulu] termed as “too late”.

The suspect was arrested when he took his unconscious spouse to Ruaraka Health Centre mid-last week. Neighbours, who suspected he had physically assaulted the woman, frog-marched him to a Ruaraka police post, where he was detained.

The victim, Wanja, was transferred to Nairobi Women’s Hospital in critical condition.

After receiving emergency care, she was taken to the Kenyatta National Hospital’s high dependency unit.

Corporal Damaris Gwendo, who is handling the case, told the court that Wanja sustained severe fractures in her right hand and right leg.

“It is believed he had tortured the victim for a lengthy period before taking her to hospital,” Gwendo said.

Gwendo sought ten days to hold the suspect as investigations into the assault of Wanja continue.

Makadara Chief Magistrate Heston Nyaga granted Gwendo seven days to complete the probe.

Ombulu will be taken back to court on Thursday, November 28, for plea-taking.