HOMA BAY, Kenya — Police in Ndhiwa, Homa Bay County, have launched a manhunt for a suspect who hacked a 64-year-old woman to death at her home following a brief, mysterious confrontation on Wednesday evening.
The victim has been identified by local authorities as Caren Atieno.
According to preliminary police reports, Atieno was at her home when the suspect arrived armed with a panga (machete). The two reportedly engaged in a short conversation before an argument broke out, escalating into a violent assault.
Fatal Injuries and Severed Limb
The assailant allegedly turned the weapon on the elderly woman, inflicting catastrophic injuries across her body before fleeing into the night.
Family members and neighbors rushed Atieno to the Ndhiwa Sub-County Hospital, but she was tragically pronounced dead on arrival due to the severity of her injuries.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and regular police officers who visited the hospital mortuary documented extensive, horrific injuries. The body bore deep cut wounds on the head, face, and right shoulder. Investigators also noted that the victim’s left hand had been completely severed at the wrist, with an additional deep wound found near her left ankle.
DCI Probe Underway as Motive Remains Unclear
The motive behind the deadly confrontation has not yet been established. Crime scene investigators have processed the homestead for forensic evidence.
The body of the deceased is currently being preserved at the Ndhiwa Sub-County Hospital mortuary pending a post-mortem examination.
Local security agencies have condemned the heinous act and urged members of the public who may have details on the suspect’s whereabouts to report to the nearest police station immediately.
