Residents of Mai Mahiu in Naivasha are reeling in shock after a man allegedly poisoned his two children before taking his own life in what police suspect was a tragic case of domestic conflict.
The man, believed to be in his late twenties, is said to have committed the act following a disagreement with his estranged wife, who was away from home at the time of the incident.
According to the children’s mother, Mary Karuku, her husband took the children without her consent and disappeared. When she was unable to reach him by phone, she reported the matter to Mai Mahiu Police Station.
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The following day, Karuku discovered the lifeless bodies of her two children and their father at their home.
“It is heartbreaking. I would like to ask people to come and help me bury my children. I would like to ask Governor Susan and MP Kihara to come and help me bury my children safely,” she said tearfully.
Family members have also appealed for assistance with funeral arrangements, urging local leaders and well-wishers to support the grieving mother.
“I would like to ask the MCAs in our area to come and help us bury the children and their father,” one relative said, adding a plea to others facing similar challenges to seek help before resorting to such extreme actions.
“If someone has been affected by something like this, please talk to someone so that we can avoid such tragedies,” the family member urged.
Police have transferred the bodies to the Naivasha County Hospital mortuary, where a postmortem examination will be conducted to establish the exact cause of death and identify the substance used in the poisoning.
Authorities have since launched investigations into the circumstances leading up to the deaths, including the couple’s domestic history.
The tragic incident has reignited national concern over rising cases of family-related killings and mental health struggles, particularly in the wake of domestic disputes.
In a similar incident earlier this year in Homa Bay, a police officer identified as David Okebe Goga reportedly poisoned his two children and a nephew before taking his own life at his rural home. Investigations later revealed that the officer had been battling marital and work-related stress.
As police continue to probe the Mai Mahiu case, residents have called for greater awareness and intervention mechanisms to help families in crisis before tragedies occur.