Police in Meru County are investigating the death of a man who committed suicide after allegedly killing his wife on lovers’ hill.
Kenneth Kimathi is reported to have murdered his wife Lorna Kinya earlier on March 12 after he took her atop Kiarui hill.
The lovers’ hill is popularly known for lovebirds who enjoy the serene picnic environment.
Kinya had gone missing since March 8, 2024, and her body was discovered in a thicket five days later.
Kimathi was on March 13 was found hanging himself from a tree approximately 500 meters higher up the lovers’ hill in Tigania West sub-County.
According to a report from Nchiru police station, Kinya’s body was discovered by herders.
Police Report on Lovers’ Hill Murder
The report also disclosed that Kinya’s body did not have one of her breasts, and her eyes were gouged out.
“It was established that the body was one Lorna Kinya a Meru female aged about 20 who had gone missing since March 8, 2024.” Upon further scrutiny, the body’s right breast was missing, multiple bruises, the tongue protruding a sign of strangulation and the eyes missing,” read part of the report.
Further, investigations from the report found that Kinya had injuries on her face, and the police also discovered some suspicious items at the scene.
“The face was badly damaged, around the body were pieces of ropes with knots, a pair of blue sandals, a panga stained with blood, blue jeans and a brown jacket,” the report said, adding that the body was moved to Miathene hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.
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Family Recounts Last Moments of the two
Ntinyari, Kinya’s sister recounted how on the fateful day, she enjoyed quality time with her sister at home. They took photos with Kinya’s two-year-old son and even danced together on TikTok.
“I was not comfortable with my sister in Meru, so I kept watch over ” her and monitored each move,” she said.
“I don’t know how she slipped from my watch. At around 8 pm she excused herself saying she was going somewhere but did not disclose the location. Grudgingly, I let her go…I wish I had refused.”
Earlier, around 7pm, Kimathi entered Kirimi Mwitikua’s shop and inquired about a rope.
“I told him I did not have one, so he bought two packets of milk and a loaf of bread. He was unusually jovial, and we joked that he was happy since he had reunited with his wife,” Mwitikua said.
“Since he did not appear stressed, I did not suspect anything and told him to buy the rope from the next shop. I wish he opened up to me, we would have resolved the matter since he was my friend.”
“I mobilized residents, and we went to Kimathi’s house. We broke the door and on entering, I sensed trouble. There were two empty milk packets and a half-eaten loaf of bread. For the first time I had a feeling that my sister was not alive,” she said.
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The Couple’s Marital Affairs
Kimathi separated from his wife Lorna Kinya around November 2023 after a troubled two-year relationship.
Following the separation, Kinya relocated to Nairobi and joined her sister, Lucy Ntinyari, where they worked together selling food on the streets.
One evening, Kinya confided in Ntinyari about the constant threats to her life from Kimathi.
Two weeks ago, Ntinyari informed Kinya that she was traveling back to their home in Amwari, Tigania West, and advised her to stay in Nairobi out of fear that her estranged husband would act on his threats.
However, Kinya insisted she would join her sister, saying she wanted to recover her identity card which Kimathi had confiscated.
