Joseph Mwangi, 53, a firewood dealer and a father of three, paid the ultimate price for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
On Wednesday, October 30 in the evening, he was stabbed to death by an enraged man in what appears to be a telephone call based on distorted information and misinformation on infidelity.
According to Samuel Wahome, the assistant chief of Kagochi village in Mathira East Sub County, Nyeri County, someone from the household of the suspect is believed to have called the husband informing him that his first wife was having an affair.
The enraged man, a polygamist, is alleged to have rushed to his home baying for the blood of his "love rival”. He found Mwangi in his house and, without asking questions, stabbed Mwangi several times, killing him instantly.
It later turned out that Mwangi, who was described as a family friend of the assailant, had been sent on an errand by the attacker’s wife who later served him tea.
“The information we have gathered so far is that the first wife of the assailant sent the deceased (Mwangi), who is a family friend, on an errand to buy onions. When he returned, he was welcomed to a cup of tea. It was as he was taking tea in the sitting room that he was killed,” Mr Wahome said.
The assistant chief added that the attacker’s first wife was also injured in the ensuing commotion as she pleaded with her husband to spare the life of the “innocent” man but her husband would hear none of it.
Villagers told Nation.Africa said they believed Mwangi was innocent and was just a victim of circumstances.
Angry villagers on Thursday chased away the woman thought to have made the call to the attacker. They accused the woman of framing Mwangi over alleged infidelity.
“This is a man we have known for a long time. He has lived with us and he is a family man, and we believe this was a case of mistaken identity. He could not have engaged in the kind of behaviour he was accused of. This is a very unfortunate incident," said Margaret Njeri.
Residents of Kagochi village described the deceased as a humble and sociable man who had been interacting and relating well with neighbours.
Mathira East Police commander Samson Leweri said the suspect is currently in police custody awaiting processing for a possible murder charge.
