News

How chopped finger led police to suspect

Published

3 years ago

February 26, 2020

Police in Molo used a severed finger left behind at a crime scene to track down two men suspected of attacking a pastor and his wife.
Deputy County Commissioner David Wanyonyi provided fresh details yesterday on the incident that left Bishop Paul Gitonga of Voices of Gospel Church and his wife, Eunice Muthoni, badly injured early this month.
“We used part of an index finger chopped off from the hand of a suspect by his accomplice and arrested the two suspects involved in the attack,” Mr Wanyonyi told The Standard.
Another police officer disclosed that after forensic analysis was done, the suspect’s fingerprints matched those provided by the Registrar of Persons.
The man was arrested at his home in Tayari village by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). Police also established that the suspect had lost a second finger and received treatment at a local hospital.
“The suspect confessed that after breaking into the house, Gitonga got hold of him. During the struggle, his accomplice, while aiming at the bishop, instead cut off the man’s fingers. They left the scene after seriously injuring the bishop and his wife,” said the officer.

Laid trap
Upon interrogation, the officer said the suspect disclosed the identity of his accomplice and later led them to his house in Jogoo, Kuresoi North, where they successfully laid a trap and arrested him.
“One suspect was found in possession of the machete used in the attack. The two are in police custody and will be arraigned at the earliest possible time. Both have been operating as charcoal burners and masons.”
Simon Munene, Gitonga’s brother, said the men broke into the house on February 1, at around 1am, armed with a machete and metal bar.
“One of the suspects was among workers who built the bishop’s house in 2013. They first went to his two daughters’ room. The girls, aged 15 and 18, were ordered to show them where their parents’ room was,” said Mr Munene.
The men slashed the couple on the head and arms before fleeing.
“The first people to respond took the bishop and his wife to Nairobi Women’s Hospital in Nakuru, where they were admitted for at least four days. The scene was bloody and we returned to clean up the house,” said Munene.
The victim’s brother said it was during the cleaning exercise that they found the finger, which they thought belonged to either Gitonga or his wife. “We took the finger to the hospital thinking it was the bishop’s or his wife’s. We were hoping that the doctors would find a way of reattaching it. But we found that all their fingers were intact.”
The finger turned out to be a major piece of evidence after they took it to Molo Police Station and handed it to investigating officers. Police got in touch with the Registrar of Persons, who linked the digit to the suspect.
“We were shocked to find out that the suspect had lost two fingers. We are grateful to the police for the investigation and we hope justice will be served. The victims are responding well to treatment at home,” Munene said.

News

He is a very dangerous man! Sonko’s daughter accuses senator of attempting to kill her

Published

2 years ago

February 16, 2021

Cate Iteyo

Lamu Senator Anwar Loitiptip and Saumu Mbuvi, daughter of former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, have announced their separation following wrangles and disagreement.

The reports were fuelled by photos and videos of Senator Loitiptip hanging out with a female friend.

Saumu, on Instagram, announced that the two have separated, claiming that she has undergone domestic violence under Loitiptip.

“These are the things he did to me,” wrote Saumu, in one of her photos showing a swollen face and bruised lips.

“He almost killed me. I will forever fight for women to stand for their rights. Never allow a man to be violent to you.”

She also claimed that the senator had neglected their child, leaving Saumu as the primary caregiver.

Loitiptip told Kenyans.co.ke that Saumu shared her father’s traits and was suffering from bipolar disorder, threatening to expose her past to prove his claim.

The two have been dating for months and at one point planned to get married. However, Sonko’s daughter clarified that the two had split before officiating their union.

“Wedding date confirmed,” she captioned a picture of herself and the senator in June 2020.

Her previous relationship with businessman cum politician Ben Gatu also ended after she accused him of being violent.

News

US raises alarm over Covid-19 cases surge in Tanzania

Published

2 years ago

February 11, 2021

Cate Iteyo

The US government has revealed that there are significant cases of Covid-19 in Tanzania.

This is just a week after it advised its citizens against travelling to the East African country.

“The US Embassy is aware of a significant increase in the number of Covid-19 cases since January 2021,” the Embassy said.

In a Health alert, the US said the practice of Covid-19 mitigation and prevention measures remains limited.

The Tanzanian government has not released aggregate numbers on Covid-19 cases or deaths since April 2020.

“Healthcare facilities in Tanzania can become quickly overwhelmed in a healthcare crisis. Limited hospital capacity throughout Tanzania could result in life-threatening delays for emergency medical care,” US said.

The Department of State’s travel advisory level for Tanzania is Level 3.

The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention says that travellers should avoid all travel to Tanzania.

The Embassy continues to recommend that all individuals take caution in day-to-day activities.

President John Magufuli assured the 58 million inhabitants that they need not worry about observing Covid-19 preventative measures.

News

Siwachii wezi! Uhuru vows not to leave the country to thieves in 2022

Published

2 years ago

February 11, 2021

Cate Iteyo

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday made a surprising stop to lecture Nairobi residents after finishing his engagement at the National Cargo Deconsolidation Centre (NCDC-Nairobi).

The Head of State said he was angry at Nairobians for being against the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Bill stating that the report has given Nairobi more constituencies.

“If we have a BBI that says the people of Nairobi will have more constituencies and if it’s bursaries a child in Mathare who today receives Ksh500, how will that child study up to university level,” President Kenyatta said.

“But there is another child who gets Ksh100,000 in Busury per year is that right?… BBI is not for helping Raila or Uhuru it is for you,” he continued.

Uhuru went on to disclose that he has no plans to rule after his term is over and his interest is in finishing the job that Kenyans elected him to do.