Police in Migori pursue man who raped and murdered mother-in-law,

Police in Migori County are pursuing a man for allegedly murdering a woman and torturing her elderly mother-in-law before setting them ablaze at Bugambero village in Mabera, Migori County.

Kuria West Sub-County Police Commander Reuben Bett said they are searching for a son-in-law whom they suspect was behind the arson attack and murder.

“It was a dispute within the family that extended to the mother-in-law. We suspect that the son-in-law is involved in the murder and arson. We are looking for him so that he can tell us what happened,” Mr. Bett said.

He said that based on the previous conflict and his disappearance, they were suspecting the son-in-law.

According to police reports, the suspect, who was armed with a kitchen knife, broke into the house of the 60-year-old woman who had hosted her daughter, aged 40, with her three grandchildren.

The suspect is said to have threatened to harm the granny with the knife and, in the process, stabbed her left fingers.

Furthermore, the police report indicated that the suspect tied the granny’s mouth with some clothes before assaulting the deceased while demanding to know the whereabouts of her daughter.

It is claimed that the deceased’s daughter had taken away the suspect’s son.

The deceased’s daughter is said to have left for Nairobi last Sunday.

The suspect is purported to have strangled his the mother-in-law, to death, before placing all of them on the bed, covered them with clothes, and lit a fire beneath the bed before fleeing the scene at about 3 am.

The police report further indicated that the granny managed to untie herself and hurriedly removed her grandchildren from the burning house.

“She was unable to carry the deceased,” the police report read in part.

By the time villagers responded, the entire house was on fire and the deceased’s body was severely.

The deceased’s body was moved to Akidiva Hospital’s morgue, awaiting post-mortem examination.

Kuria West police boss highlighted that there has been a long dispute between the two families.

Stephen Muhanga, a neighbor, said that when he rushed to the home, he found that the house where the two women were with the four children had been burnt down.

According to Mahanga, the women had been tied, and the children badly hurt.

“We strongly condemn the act. I have seen how everything in that home has been burnt to ashes,” Muhanga said.

He told the authorities to intervene and arrest the person involved.

The granny and children were rushed to Bugumbe health center, while two children who sustained serious injuries were referred to Migori County Referral Hospital for specialized treatment.

Celine Mwita, who is a medic at Bugumbe health center, confirmed that the one-year-old had been badly injured after his head had been smashed on the wall and had a broken left arm.

“One of the children had a stab wound on the face and the one-year-old has a head injury and a broken arm,” Ms. Mwita said.