Popular Murang’a Nyama Choma chef killed by 20-year-old son, body burnt

A popular Murang’a-based nyama choma Chef, John Mwangi, has been killed in cold blood by his 20-year-old son Michael Muchiri in a family dispute gone awry.

Grief engulfed Muchungucha village in Kiharu after the news of the Thursday night gruesome murder spread.

The 60-year-old chef was waylaid by his son on his way from work and struck on the head with a blunt object, according to reports.

The 22-year-old suspect then poured petrol on the body and set it on fire.

Mwangi’s grief-struck widow, Susan Wanjiru said she was alerted by a loud thud outside her house at around 7:30pm on Thursday.

She ventured out where she saw her son running from what appeared to be a huge fire.

She says that upon inspection, she saw a piece of her husband’s shirt and then noticed what appeared to be his body smoldering.

“I thought my son was burning banana leaves, but when I got closer, I saw my husbands shirt, it was him and he was on fire (sic), I just ran away…,” she explained.

The area Chief Wanjiru Mukami confirmed the incident, saying the suspect who is still at large is likely to have been using drugs judging from a few odd behaviours.

The suspect’s sister Joycelynn Wamuyu  described her late father as a staunch Christian who was amiable, friendly and kind.

“My dad was a wonderful man, I came back home after breaking up with my husband, and he has been taking care of me and kids, this is heartbreaking,” she said.

She said the simmering tensions in the family go back a long time but had reached breaking point a few weeks ago.

It all began after her brother accused their late father of sidelining him, saying the family was allowing farmhands to work at their family shamba without consulting him.

On several occasions, Muchiri who dropped out of school while in Form 2 had brandished a machete at his mother and several farmworkers, forcing them to lock themselves in.

He is also said to have beaten up his sister-in-law several months back, dislocating her arm in the process.