It is a double tragedy for the family of a teacher whoBomet murder was reportedly murdered last month by her spouse in Bomet as it has emerged that she was pregnant.
Ms Beatrice Chepkemoi, 31, was found dead on April 21 inside her house at Kapchepkosiom village in Kiptulwa location, Sotik constituency, according to Bomet County Police Commander Edward Imbwaga.
A postmortem report shows that Beatrice, a teacher at Kamureito Secondary School, died as a result of internal bleeding, damage to the liver, suffocation and head injuries.
“The medical report has also confirmed that she was pregnant at the time of her death. This was a diabolical act,” her brother, Mr Hillary Chirchir, said in an interview on Saturday.
The suspect, Mr Peter Ngeno, is in police custody. He surrendered at Litein Police Station in the neighbouring Kericho County and was handed over to the authorities in Bomet.
The suspect has not taken plea in court as investigations are ongoing with mental assessment results to determine whether he is fit to stand trial for murder yet to be released.
Family's pain after Bomet teacher reportedly murdered by her husband while pregnant
On the fateful day, Mr Ngeno, an electrical engineer, is believed to have hacked her wife to death as their two young daughters aged nine and six years slept in an adjacent room.
“The children slept through the incident and were woken up by members of the public who responded to a distress call from family members. They did not know what had befallen their mother,” assistant chief Leonard Chirchir, Kenyelwet said.
Mr Denis Ngeno, the suspect’s brother, who lives nearby, told local administrators that he heard a distress call from a woman and alerted his elder brother Mr Gideon Ngeno.
The two went to their brother’s house which they found locked from the inside. They persuaded the suspect to open the door in vain.
“While they were peeping through the window, the suspect opened the door and fled the scene. His two brothers went inside and found the body of Beatrice lying on the floor with blood oozing from her mouth,” Mr Imbwaga recounted.
The suspect and the Moi University graduate started their relationship in 2016. However, the couple had differences that intensified in the last two years.
“Beatrice ran away from her home and returned to stay with her mother for a month last December (2024) before her in-laws came for her. During a meeting between the two families, Beatrice said she had not wronged her spouse,” said Mr Chirchir.
On the day she would be killed, Beatrice had spoken with her mother Esther Sang. She was to send money to her parents to buy some stuff for a family gathering at a relative’s home.
“On the material day, she spoke with mum and said she would be sending money and would not be travelling home as earlier planned. She however said she would attend the family gathering planned for Wednesday last week. That was the last contact with the family,” Mr Chirchir revealed.
But she did not send the money as promised, and did not attend the family gathering which was called off following the murder. It also emerged that she had taken a Sh20,000 loan to construct a kitchen at their home.
“She had purchased iron sheets for the construction of a separate kitchen from the main house, and hired local carpenters to put up the structure, which did not materialize as she died before the work could be started,” Mr Chirchir said.
During the burial at Kapsimotwo village in Kaplong, the family members, teachers and leaders demanded justice.
Teachers during the funeral service for Beatrice Chepkemoi at Kapsimotwo village in Sotik constituency, Bomet county on April 29, 2025.
Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation Media Group
“All we are demanding for is justice to be done. Nothing can be done to bring my daughter back to life. But he who took her life should be handed the same sentence by the courts,” her mother said.
Esther Sang, the mother of Beatrice Chepkemoi, during the funeral service for her departed daughter at Kapsimotwo village, Bomet County on April 29, 2025.
Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation Media Group
Knut Bomet branch executive secretary Desmond Langat (left) and his Kuppet counterpart Paul Kimetto address mourners during the funeral of Beatrice Chepkemoi at Kapsimotwo village, Bomet County on April 29, 2025.
Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation Media Group
Mr Paul Kimetto, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Bomet branch executive secretary, and his Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) counterpart Mr Desmond Langat, asked the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (ODDP) to swiftly handle the matter.
“We expect thorough investigations from the DCI and a conviction by the ODPP against the suspect who appeared to have had a premeditated murder going by the previous cases of gender based violence against Beatrice,” the unions said in a joint statement.
Ms Agnes Chepkorir Ngeno, the Bomet County Executive Committee Member for Education, said the rising cases of femicide in the region are worrying.
“We must instill in our people to respect the sanctity of life and seek to address exhaustively the root of conflicts and reconcile couples that are in disagreement over a number of issues that are not limited to love affairs,” Ms Ngeno said.
