When Gloria Seriana walked out of an abusive relationship two months ago and rented her own house, she thought she was finally free and out of harms way
And she did enjoy some relative tranquility for a while until the jilted lover tracked her down to the new rental house at an estate in Nanyuki Town, Laikipia County.
It was a night of horror but Seriana survived the ordeal and is admitted at Nanyuki Level Five hospital with serious injuries.
The couple had met five years ago and after dating moved in together mid last year though their marriage was yet to be formalised.
While living together, Seriana, 26, says she realised that Edwin Muriithi, 27, had all of a sudden turned violent. In September this year, she could no longer tolerate the assaults and moved out to her own place in the neighborhood.
But her boyfriend started stalking her, prompting Seriana to always walk in the company of close friends. She also instructed the watchman at their gate never to allow him in.
On the night of November 23, he sneaked into her house and stole her phone hoping to use it as a bait to lure her to meet him.
Instead, Seriana drove in a friend's car to file a complaint at Nanyuki Police Station.
As the four - Seriana and her three male friends- drove along Muthaiga-Shika Adabu Road after making the report, Muriithi ambushed them.
Driving a family vehicle and armed with a slasher, Muriithi had trailed their car. As they headed towards Huruma Estate, he had overtaken them and blocked their vehicle. He then stepped out brandishing a slasher, pulled Seriana out of the car and repeatedly attacked her.
Seriana desperately tried to shield the attacks aimed at her head using hands. All this time the assailant was threatening to slash to death anyone who tried to intervene.
“He firmly held me by the hair braids with his left hand, ordered me to say my last prayers, then swung the slasher’s sharpened tip towards my neck. Luckily and probably driven by instinct, I moved my neck backwards on time and the killer weapon only injured my chin,” she recalled in an interview at the hospital.
As she fell to the ground, the assailant jumped into his car and attempted to run over her while reversing.
However, quick action by one of Seriana’s friends who quickly drove their car ahead to protect her from the assailant’s vehicle saved her life.
Seriana is recuperating at the Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital (NTRH) nursing serious arms and head injuries.h
“Before passing out, I recall telling my three friends my last wishes but was surprised to find myself in a hospital ward about eight hours later. The events of that Saturday night traumatizes me especially when I look at my badly injured hands,” said the tour operator.
An orphan who grew up in Maralal Town, Samburu County and then relocated to Nanyuki to live with a relative still smiled despite her pain.
“My request to the authorities is to ensure that my ex-boyfriend pays dearly for his crimes. I am an orphan with no siblings who can stand with me at this time but luckily I have some trusted friends,” she said.
NTRH Chief Executive Officer Sammy Kilonzo said though the patient at times experiences excruciating pain, she is out of danger. She is also set to undergo several surgical operations on both hands.
She has been undergoing counselling which will continue even after being discharged from hospital, Kilonzo said.
Muriithi, who was arrested two days after the incident, is detained at the Nanyuki Police Station after being presented in court on November 26. Detectives asked the court for more time to complete investigations before charging him with attempted murder.
Laikipia East Sub-County Police Commander John Tarus told Nation that Muriithi is set to be presented in court on Tuesday, December 3 to answer to the charges.
“Detectives prayed the court for seven days to enable them gather enough evidence to prove that the suspect had a predetermined motive to commit murder and this was not an assault arising from some misunderstanding. Once convicted, he faces up to 24 years in jail,” said the police boss.
Laikipia County Gender Officer Karen Kiogora said crimes of passion are committed by individuals who fail to heal after separation from people who have been close to them for a while.
“Such violent behaviour cuts across both genders after a painful separation. There are incidents where women attack their former partners physically while most of the time, they go for the easier target; any women associating with their former partners.
Incidents of physical attack could be prevented by encouraging the affected to seek counselling services to assist them heal from the break ups,” said Ms Kiogora.
