Man who Killed Moi University Medicine Student Ivy Wangechi Speaks Out

Naftali Njahi Kinuthia, a 28-year-old man who brutally killed a six-year Moi University medicine student Ivy Wangechi on Tuesday has spoken out on what prompted him to commit the horrifying act.

In his testimony to the head of Eldoret East Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Ali Kingi on Wednesday, the suspect has mentioned heartbreaks and frequent disappointments by the deceased as the reason why he took the move. 

The suspect says he had invested money and emotions in the 25-year-old student, only for her to heartbreak and disappoint him

“The accused said he used to send the woman some money. The girl, according to the suspect, had told him that she was organizing her birthday party, which would happen soon. He said he sent her some money to arrange the event. Since then, the woman refused to pick his calls, said the suspect. That is what prompted him to travel [from Thika] to Eldoret. He said he wanted to know why she was ignoring him,” Kingi has told EDAILY in an interview.

“When he [Kinuthia] arrived in Eldoret on Monday, the woman continued to decline to pick his calls. He said it got to a point where she switched off her phone. According to him, that angered him prompting him to look for an axe and kill the girl. We are still waiting for him to give more details after he is discharged from hospital,” adds Kingi.

“He said it wasn’t his first time coming to Eldoret, and that he used to visit her often in the past. He said he visited her last Friday, and their meeting was brief. According to him, the girl told him that she was going to her residential place to take off her professional attire. She told him she would be back. However, upon reaching her residential place, the woman switched off her phone, effectively blocking her planned meeting with him,” the officer explains.

Kinuthia says he traveled to Eldoret in a bid to talk to Ms. Ivy but she declined to pick his calls.

“He said that also provoked him into returning to Eldoret[on Monday] to try speak with the woman.Upon returning to Eldoret, the man said he felt despised by the woman when she refused to pick his calls. From our sources, the suspect bought the axe and knife in Eldoret. They were sharpened in Eldoret. We’re yet to interrogate him further. Once he is stable, he will be taken to court,” says Kingi.

The DCI officer also says Ms. Wangechi’s parents knew the suspect and he has been their family friend for long.

“The girl’s parents say they knew the suspect. He used to visit them often, and is a family friend. They were also shocked why Kinuthia killed Ivy. The suspect and the deceased knew each other since childhood.”

Kingi has also confirmed Kinuthia resides in Thika and works with one of the Kenyan betting firms.

He says he drove to Eldoret in a personal car of registration number KCB 838P.

“His phone was found in the car. We are yet to know if he regrets his actions, or it was something he fully planned,” notes Kingi.

The suspect is currently receiving treatment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) after he was badly roughed up by an angry mob and rescued by police.

He hit the lady with an axe outside MTRH in broad daylight before slitting her throat using a knife. Ivy succumbed to injuries.