Police in Elgeyo Marakwet are probing an incident in which a woman allegedly killed her expectant co-wife following a feud.
Mercy Cheyech, 23, who was eight months pregnant is alleged to have been hacked to death by her co-wife in a brutal killing in Kibendo Village, Keiyo North Sub-county on Saturday night.
According to area assistant chief Paul Kipyego, the suspect walked for about four kilometres from her matrimonial home to her mother-in-law’s house where Cheyech lived and allegedly committed the offence.
Residents said they heard a quarrel and upon arrival at the home, they found the deceased had been seriously injured and was bleeding profusely.
Mr Kipyego said Cheyech, who came from neighbouring West Pokot County was rushed to Iten County Referral after the 8 pm incident but succumbed to the injuries. The suspect of the killing Goreti Ayabei, 28, is reported to have cut Cheyech several times on the neck using a machete following a disagreement. Ayabei, a mother of four was arrested as she attempted to flee the scene and is being questioned at Tambach Police station. Penix Korir, 30, brought in Cheyech a month ago as his second wife and took her to his mother’s house where she has been living.
The killing sparked fear in Kibendo after Cheyech’s relatives and elders from Pokot South showed up on Monday and demanded Sh100,000.
They demanded the sum of money, claiming it would be used to calm West Pokot youth who were planning to attack the family of Cheyech’s husband to avenge the killing.
