On July 20, 26-year-old Gladwell Wambui had a domestic disagreement with her husband, Dennis Michael, 28.
The confrontation forced her to leave their home with their four-year-old son, Neville Michael Nthenge, and seek refuge at her parents’ house, just three kilometers away.
On Sunday evening, Ms Wambui left for her night shift, leaving Neville in the care of her parents.
The following morning, she returned home and learned that Neville had already left for school. Her grandmother had prepared him, and he had been escorted to school by his uncle.
But by 4pm, Neville had not returned, prompting concern.
“I called the boda boda rider who usually picks him up from school. He told me that Dennis had called earlier and informed him that Neville hadn’t gone to school that day, so he didn’t need to pick him up,” she said.
Gladwell Wambui and her mother, Loise Wangui, are overwhelmed by emotions as Wambui narrates how she found her husband, Dennis Michael, and son dead, in a suspected murder suicide in Nakuru City on July 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi| Nation Media Group
Confused and alarmed, Ms Wambui tried calling her husband, but he was unreachable as calls went unanswered and text messages were ignored. She also went to his workplace, where he worked as a graphic designer, but he was not there.
“I assumed he had picked up our son. I was worried, but not alarmed enough. I had to return to work for my night shift,” she said.
On Tuesday morning, after finishing her shift, Ms Wambui decided to visit her matrimonial home to check on her son. She found the house locked with two padlocks and keys left in place.
Upon opening the door, she was met with a strong chemical smell coming from the bedroom.
Inside, she found her son's lifeless body lying on their bed with his hands and feet tied, and a white substance covered his nose and mouth.
In the bathroom, lay the body of her husband.
“I was devastated. I don’t know what happened. I suspect it was a murder-suicide—maybe he poisoned our son before taking his own life. I did not have the strength to look at his body. I just ran to the nearby police station to report,” she said, breaking down in tears.
“We had our differences, yes. But I never imagined this. My life is shattered,” she added.
“We are utterly shocked. I last saw him on Monday. He looked calm and nothing seemed out of the ordinary,” said neighbour John Kimani.
Ms Wambui’s mother, Loice Wangui, recalled that Neville had been in high spirits when he left for school that morning.
“He told me, ‘Goodbye, shosh, I will see you in the evening.’ He went off with his uncle. We never imagined that would be the last time we saw him alive,” she said.
She added, “We do not understand how Dennis managed to get the child. He was in school. How did this happen? I have lost my bubbly, loving grandson. He was only in Grade Two. I’ll miss him terribly.”
Nakuru East sub-County Police Commander Mohammed Wako confirmed that detectives from the homicide unit have launched investigations.
“Police officers visited the scene. Investigations are ongoing to determine exactly what happened,” said Mr Wako.
