Man kills his dowry herd, hangs self, after quarrel with wife
Residents of Mbarwari village in Embu county are still in shock after man went to his in-laws and killed a herd he had offered as dowry for his wife two weeks ago.
The 46 year-old man then hanged himself on a tree after leaving behind a suicide note that gave instructions how he was to be buried.
Mr Paul Njeru Irema is said to have quarreled with his wife days after the dowry payment ceremony and she left for her parents’s home.
On Tuesday morning, Mr Njeru doused his shop with petrol and set it ablaze. He proceeded to his in-laws where he shot the three cows, a calf and two goats with arrows.
He then hanged himself on a tree.
“The animals he killed were the ones he had offered as dowry two weeks ago. Everyone is shocked,” area chief Domisiano Njeru said.
SUICIDE NOTE
The deceased, a father of four, left a suicide note in which he asked to be buried in a cow shed without a casket. He also detailed how his property was to be shared.
“He requested that people do not contribute any money for his burial. The place he hanged himself is near the place he wished to be buried,” said Mr Njeru.
Muminji ward administrator Njeru Nyaga said he had spotted the couple on Monday and they seemed to have resolved their differences.
“It is as if the quarrel escalated during the month of December because he had not been operating his shop for long. He was a good man and of sober mind. We were worried why he was not operating during the festive period,” he said.
The administrator said the deceased, who is well regarded in the village, usually participated in public functions and had recently built a mansion.
“He was a respected businessman and even had a lot of stock. We didn’t think he could have taken such an action,” he said.
