By Franklin Wallah,
Police have been given 10 days to detain the wife of a soldier who died over the weekend in unclear circumstances at their home in Kahawa Wendani, Kiambu County.
The mother of one, Violet Asela aka Achan, was arraigned at the Ruiru Law Courts on Tuesday, April 6, where detectives were given more time to complete their investigations into the death of KDF private, Daniel Omollo Onyango.
Detectives also visited the studio at the center of the couple’s relationship problems, a house that is said to have prompted the KDF officer to travel from Nakuru to Nairobi to ascertain its existence and who was actually paying the rent.
The 37-year-old military officer is said to have suspected that his wife had a benefactor who rented out the studio at Mirema Drive for the up-and-coming musician.
On Tuesday, police said that they recorded a statement from the Mirema house landlord to ascertain who was paying rent for the musician’s house.
The military officer reportedly died after a scuffle with his wife at their home in the wee hours of Sunday morning, April 4.
He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Kahawa Garrison Health Centre in Kiambu County where he was taken after he collapsed in his house during the fight with Asela.
Reports indicated that Onyango had bite marks on his chest and injuries on his hand while the wife also sustained injuries on her shoulder.
The wife’s relatives, who were in the house when the fight broke out, an adult sister and cousin, said they tried to break up the scuffle.
The relatives told police that before they could intervene, the wife pushed Onyango to the wall and the KDF officer collapsed.
Speaking from police custody, Ms Asale said that Onyango was trying to suffocate her so she defended herself.
“Hajastabiwa hata kidogo. Hakuna hata alama ya kisu wala kugongwa [He wasn’t stabbed and he doesn’t even have a stab wound]. My husband fainted. Katika ile harakati ya sisi kung’ang’ana mimi nilitoka nje ye akabaki ndani (bedroom) [During the scuffle I freed myself and left him in the bedroom]. Katika ile hasira yake yeye anaendaga akiangusha vitu kwa nyumba. Alibaki kwa bedroom, akaanza kuvunjana na …, sasa siwezi jua alijigonga wapi [When he gets angry he likes throwing things in the house and self-harming]…
After like five minutes, he called out saying he was having difficulty breathing. He started holding his stomach, I don’t know where he hit himself,” said Ms. Asale.
The musician said that she is now looking for a lawyer to represent her in court on Tuesday, April 6, when she is expected to be arraigned as police continue to investigate the soldier’s death.
In her own words, Ms. Asale referred to Onyango as her ex-husband and the father of her child.
As police pieced together the KDF’s soldier’s health background, it emerged that he survived a serious road accident and landmine explosion that his convoy while on duty.
Ms. Asale’s relatives who were at the house during the deadly scuffle have also recorded statements.
The body of the KDF soldier was moved to the Kenya Defense Forces Memorial Hospital mortuary pending a postmortem on Wednesday, April 7.
