55-year-old woman burnt to death by relatives in Machakos over land dispute

Detectives in Machackos County are holding five family members in connection with an arson attack sparked by a land dispute that led to the death of a 55-year-old woman.

The deadly land dispute also left the husband and son of the deceased woman nursing serious injuries.

At Kathuma village in Kyambuko area of Machakos County stands what was for more than 20 years the home of Juliana Mwikali. Now the interior of the house is covered with soot, speaking to the magnitude of the fire that consumed everything in its wake.has

“Tulimtoa akiwa amechomeka saana lakini mono na mguu alikuwa amefungwa na binding wire… kwa hivo inaonekana walimchoma akiwa amefungwa,” said a neighbour.

It was an alleged arson attack partly witnessed by Jackson Makau, her son, who recalls his own uncles and cousins waking him up 5am last Saturday with blows.

“Wakanipiga ile mbaya sana tena wakanikata kata nikawa unconscious,” recounted Makau.

The relatives, who appeared hell bent on wiping out the family, are also alleged to have attacked Mwikali’s husband Nelson Ngui, who is still nursing the panga cuts on several parts of his body.

Nelson is at pains to narrate that the very children he brought up as his own, were now baying for his blood.

He says they followed him all the way to Mtito Andei where he has a second home before killing his other wife in Machakos.

Area County Chief Investigation officer Rhoda Kanyi says the five relatives are already in custody and are set to face murder charges.

The piece of land in contention is located in the hilly area of Kyambuko, with both factions of the family claiming ownership, blaming Nelson Ngui’s family of delaying division.

The suspects are expected to be arraigned this week.