Jilted man kills Varsity lover, tries to hang self, but is lynched by mob
A sombre mood engulfed Moi University’s West Campus in Uasin-Gishu on Monday after a man stabbed to death a student said to be his girlfriend.
The man, said to be a student in another university, was later killed by a mob as he tried to commit suicide.
Mr Kelvin Cheruiyot ,23, is said to have gone to 21-year-old Cecilia Jebet’s house near the university, at 9 pm on Sunday when a quarrel ensued.
Neighbours said they heard a commotion in the house soon after Mr Cheruiyot had arrived.
SCREAMED FOR HELP
“We rushed to the house after she had screamed for help but we could not get in because the door had been locked from inside.
“We decided to break the door and that is when we found her bleeding profusely; she had been stabbed. She later succumbed to her injuries later,” said Mr Harris Kiprop.
The deceased’s cousins watched as she was being killed. They could not leave because the attacker had locked the door with a padlock.
Mr Cheruiyot was trying to hang himself when the neighbours broke in.
He is said to have called his mother after killing his girlfriend and told her to find his body at the mortuary. He also gave Ms Chebet’s cousins Sh6,000 to give his mother.
BREAK UP
Trouble is said to have started when Ms Chebet, a second year Bachelor of Education student, decided to break up with her boyfriend. Some students claim had planned to leave Mr Cheruiyot for another man.
Blood was spilled all over the house and in the compound by the time the Nation team arrived. Ms Chebet’s belongings were also strewn all over the house.
Student leader Elvas Cheruiyot wants the university to ensure safety of students living off campus.
“This is a very barbaric, heinous and cowardice act. As far as we know, the man was an intruder, he was not one of us,” said Mr Cheruiyot said.
LYNCHED
Eldoret West police boss Smollets Munyianzi said they have launched investigations into the incident.
“When the attacker realized the repercussions of what he had done, he took a rope and tried to commit suicide but that not happen because residents broke into the house, dragged him outside and lynched him,” Mr Munyianzi said.
The police will also be relying on statements of the deceased’s cousins who witnessed the incident.