By ERIC JUMA
A domestic dispute turned fatal in Ogam Village, Nyamonye Location, Bondo Sub-County, after a village elder allegedly hacked his wife to death before attempting to take his own life.
The suspect, identified as Dan Ndeda Agola, is alleged to have killed his wife, Maurine Atieno, in the early hours of Thursday before attempting suicide by hanging and consuming poison. He was rescued by neighbours and is receiving treatment under police guard at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu.
According to the deceased’s mother, Florence Oloo, the suspect attacked her daughter with an axe while she was asleep, inflicting fatal injuries to the head and chest.
“My daughter had endured a difficult marriage for a long time. She called me at around 8 p.m. that evening, and I had asked her to come back home if things were no longer working, but she declined,” Oloo said.
She said her daughter had planned to return to her parents’ home after schools closed to escape the alleged domestic abuse she had been experiencing.
According to the family, the couple had frequent domestic disputes, reportedly linked to childlessness after the death of their only child, who was born in 2019.
“There had been constant quarrels that often turned violent. After their son died, my daughter was unable to conceive again, and this became a source of conflict in the marriage,” Oloo said.
The family said Atieno had previously been married in Ugenya, where she had two children before divorcing and returning to her parents’ home in Barolengo, Alego Usonga Sub-County.
She later met Ndeda, who reportedly persuaded her to marry him and move to Ogam Village despite concerns raised by relatives over his previous marriages.
The deceased’s relatives said they had previously intervened and attempted to reconcile the couple, but the domestic conflicts persisted.
Nyamonye Location Chief Nashon Ombere Obera said preliminary investigations indicate that the family had supper together on Wednesday evening before retiring to bed.
According to the chief, the suspect allegedly armed himself with an axe during the night and attacked his wife while she was asleep, killing her instantly.
“After the incident, he allegedly attempted to end his own life by hanging himself and consuming poison, but neighbours responded quickly and rescued him before rushing him to Bondo Sub-County Hospital. He was later referred to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital for specialised treatment,” said Obera.
He added that police have recorded statements from relatives and neighbours as investigations into the incident continue.
The chief confirmed that the deceased succumbed to severe head and chest injuries.
The incident was reported to police by the suspect’s elder sister, Jane Agola, prompting officers from Bondo Police Station to visit the scene.
Police found the woman’s body lying inside the house before transferring it to the Bondo Sub-County Mortuary, where it awaits a post-mortem examination.
Obera said the suspect remains under police guard at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital and will face murder charges once he is discharged and declared fit to stand trial.
Police have launched investigations into the incident as leaders renewed calls for families experiencing domestic violence to seek help before disputes escalate into tragedy.
