Teresia Wanjiku was paid Kshs300,000 so that she wouldn’t pursue justice for the murder of husband Francis Waweru.
Speaking to Daily Nation, the 60-year woman from Murang’a county said that she was given an affidavit to sign as well after the deal was struck. The affidavit stated that her husband was killed by a mob and therefore none of the suspects could be traced.
Waweru, 70, who was serving as a watchman at Muti Secondary School was killed in May 2017.
Wanjiku told the publication that prior to his death, three men on a motorcycle had attempted to steal the school’s property multiple times but he managed to repulse them by talking them out of committing the crime.
According to the wife, Waweru was not willing to report the men to the police and watch them sent to jail, being a born again christian, as they were people’s children.
She however urged her husband to quit the job because it was becoming risky and considering his age, there is nothing much he could do to defend himself.
The unfortunate turn of events occurred on May 15, 2017. At 5am she received a distress call from a friend who informed her about her husband’s critical situation.
“The voice that belonged to a woman friend was literally weeping in my right ear…Abandon everything else you are oping here, your husband is very sick and needs immediate medical attention… and she hang up,” Wanjiku recalled.
Upon rushing to the scene, she found her husband sprawled on the floor with his eyes closed. He was rushed to Thika level 4 hospital but succumbed on May 18, 2017. Medical reports indicated that he suffered serious head injuries that saw his skull crac and caused internal bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke.
While awaiting for the arrest of suspects in the murder and justice, she received guests believed to be parents of the suspects, who were in the company of the village elder.
The visitors expressed their remorse for the demise of her husband and expressed intention of making peace, seeking forgiveness and reconciliation. Wanjiru consulted with her children about the matter and they refused to cooperate. Her father also told her that it was upon her to decide.
She also went to the area chief to report the matter.
“He told me it was better to receive compensation instead of making endless trips to the court pursuing jailing of the suspects while not expecting the suspect to resurrect from the dead,” she said.
This saw her get handed Kshs300,000 in cash which equaled 25 cows. From the cash, she only remained with Kshs 106,000 after settling hospital bill that was at Kshs 30,000, funeral expenses which stood at Kshs150,000 sitting allowances for elders among other expenses.
LSK Murang’a branch and villagers are now seeking to have the case revived so that justice for the death of the deceased can be served.
