From anger, acid and death: The sad tale of 'Wamboo', woman who fed Thika town

Early on the morning of June 6, the familiar aroma of freshly prepared snacks that usually drifted through Njoka & Njoka Building along Uhuru Street in Thika Town was noticeably absent, signalling that something was amiss.

The appetising scent normally wafted from the first floor, where Phyllis Wambui, popularly known as Wamboo, operated a thriving eatery. Customers routinely streamed in early for breakfast before beginning their day.

But on this particular morning, the atmosphere was different. The familiar aroma was missing and the eatery had not opened as usual, leaving her loyal customers disappointed and puzzled about what had happened to the 30-year-old woman. Wamboo was a favourite among office workers, mobile phone traders, boda boda riders and many others who frequented her stall for breakfast and lunch.

To them, she was more than a food vendor. She was a friend, a hardworking mother and a woman striving to build a better future for her two young sons. Yet on this Saturday morning, silence engulfed the stall where life had once bustled with activity.

The utensils remained untouched. Customers who tried to reach her by phone received no response, only to later learn that the woman they affectionately called Wamboo would never return.

Wambui and her two sons had allegedly fallen victim to a tragic acid attack reportedly linked to her estranged husband, Martin Kamau Kamoko, at Kiganjo Estate in Thika, Kiambu County.

The incident revived painful memories of a tragedy that shook the nation more than a decade ago. In November 2014, Nairobi lawyer Paul Magu allegedly wiped out his entire family before taking his own life. 

The deaths of Magu and his family remain among the most shocking incidents in Kenya’s recent history. His wife was found dead under unclear circumstances, while Magu was later discovered dead near the Thika–Garissa Highway in what investigators initially treated as suicide.

Their three children — Allen, Ryan and Tiffany — were later found dead in Ruiru, sparking national outrage and raising troubling questions about what could have driven the lawyer to kill his wife and children before ending his own life.

Fast forward to today, and what began as a domestic disagreement allegedly ended in horror, cutting short the life of a woman many described as resilient, kind-hearted and deeply devoted to her children, six-year-old Talan Kamau and four-year-old Terence Waweru. 

A love story 

Those who knew the couple say their relationship dated back many years, long before they got married. They reportedly met in their rural home village of Mwagu in Gatanga, Murang’a County, where their romance blossomed while they were still young.

After completing school, they moved to Thika Town in search of better opportunities, determined to build a life together. Like many young couples striving to make ends meet in a bustling urban centre, they worked tirelessly.

Wambui ventured into the food business, while Kamoko earned a living as a plumber and occasionally sold motor vehicle spare parts at a garage behind the Thika bus terminus. Friends describe them as an ambitious young family — hardworking, focused and hopeful about the future.

As customers at Wambui’s eatery struggled to comprehend what could have happened, a post by the popular online platform Thika Town Today began circulating widely on social media, drawing attention to the tragedy and fuelling public discussion about the circumstances surrounding it.

A man, his wife and their two children were rushed to hospital with burn injuries following an alleged house fire incident in the Blue Oasis area of Kiganjo, Thika. It is alleged that the man attempted to set the house on fire following a domestic dispute with his wife,” the post read.

At first, few people connected the tragedy to Wamboo. The report seemed distant — just another disturbing incident making the rounds on social media. But within minutes, food vendors and traders in Thika Town realised that the Kiganjo incident involved their colleague and her two sons. Word spread rapidly across the town. Wambui, they learned, had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit after allegedly being attacked by her estranged husband.

One regular customer recalled seeing her only hours before the tragedy unfolded. “I met Wamboo yesterday as I was heading to the chemist to collect medicine. I told her to come and pick up her plate once I returned, but by the time I got back home, she had not come,” the customer said.

By midday, conversations across Thika had shifted almost entirely to the tragedy. More details began to emerge, revealing that Wambui and her children had become victims of a devastating incident of alleged domestic violence that would leave the community reeling in shock.

According to her cousin, Susan Mwangi, there had been no obvious signs of danger the previous day.

“She had come home to cook for the children, and later the two began quarreling. The children had been sent to the shop, but when they returned, they found the house locked and their parents arguing inside,” Susan recounted.

Susan, who was among the first people to arrive at the scene, said the children repeatedly knocked on the door, pleading to be let in.

When the door was eventually opened, Kamoko allegedly poured a suspected corrosive substance on them. The children reportedly ran outside screaming in pain, attracting the attention of neighbours, who rushed to the scene and found them suffering from severe burns.

By then, chaos had engulfed the usually quiet estate. Neighbours desperately tried to help as the victims were rushed to hospital. What many had initially believed to be a house fire would later emerge as a far more disturbing tragedy.

Tragic end

Residents initially believed the husband and wife had died in a house fire. Inside the house, however, items were strewn across the rooms, suggesting that a struggle may have occurred before the incident.

Kamoko and his firstborn son, Talan, died shortly afterward as efforts were being made to rush them to hospital. Wambui and her younger son, Terence, were taken to hospital for treatment but later succumbed to their injuries.

According to a close friend, the marriage began experiencing difficulties earlier this year, eventually leading to a separation about three months ago.

Wambui is said to have moved out and taken the children to her parents’ home in Gatanga. However, Kamoko later brought the children back, and they continued living with him.

Friends say she would often leave her food business in Thika Town early and travel to Kiganjo Estate, where she prepared meals for the children before returning to the place where she was living separately.“She still cared deeply for the children despite the separation,” said a close friend.

The friend, who requested anonymity, revealed that tensions escalated after Wambui travelled to Mombasa during the Easter holidays. She reportedly left on Maundy Thursday and returned the following Tuesday.

Although the couple had already separated, Kamoko is said to have been unhappy about the trip, and communication between them allegedly deteriorated further afterward.

“Although they were separated, Wambui’s trip to Mombasa appears to have intensified the tension between them. I understand Kamoko was unhappy and felt betrayed,” the source said. To many people who interacted with her daily, Wambui rarely spoke about challenges in her marriage. Instead, she remained focused on her work and her children.

Those who ordered food from her remember a cheerful and hardworking woman who seldom revealed the struggles she may have been facing behind the scenes. Most recall a devoted mother determined to secure a better future for her two sons, whom she deeply loved and frequently photographed.

Even in the midst of personal difficulties, friends say Wambui remained  committed to her business and family, leaving behind memories of resilience, warmth and unwavering dedication to her children.

Her last social media messages

In one of her last TikTok posts, Wambui sat on a verandah singing along to a 1990s song by Alice Wambui Mugechi: “Wega wa gwitu nduri woneka thii na uthaka wakuo nduri wonekana.”

Translated loosely, the lyrics reflect on heaven’s beauty, describing it as incomparable to anything on earth — a place no one fully understands until they experience it.

Looking back, friends now find the post painfully haunting. At the time, she could not have known that death was drawing near.

In another post, she sang along to a remix of a song originally performed by Salome Mwambido: “Ebu nieleze kwa sauti ya upole, akili zangu zikuelewe.”

The song is a plea to Jesus to gently explain life’s purpose and suffering in a way a child can understand. To those reflecting on her final days, the posts appear to reveal a woman quietly navigating emotional turbulence while still trying to remain strong.

Yet many close to her say she rarely shared details about her marriage. “She guarded her family issues closely,” a colleague said. It was only in death, they add, that the struggles hidden beneath the surface began to emerge.

Across social media, reactions poured in as Kenyans grappled with the devastating circumstances.

Catherine Kamau posted: “Naonanga wasomi wakisema red flags in a relationship can be identified as early as possible. Ni vile many choose to be blinded by what they claim to be love.”

“There is always a very thin line between love and hate. When you love too much, always leave room for something terrible happening. A little trigger and everything comes down to ashes for all parties. United in death,” wrote Kenfish Peter.

According to Betty Musyoki, a counselling psychologist domestic conflicts often arise from emotional distress, hopelessness, anger, mental illness, financial pressure, possessiveness and substance abuse.

However, most people facing such challenges do not turn to violence, as cases often involve multiple risk factors. She notes that extreme stress can make some individuals feel trapped, while mental illness, substance use and fear of rejection may heighten violent behaviour.

Mary Kirika, an educationist from Thika, urges families to seek counselling early, improve communication and watch for warning signs such as threats, jealousy, substance abuse or sudden behavioural changes.

She emphasises that no conflict should be resolved through violence, recommending dialogue, mediation or counselling instead.

For Thika residents, the tragedy has reopened debate on domestic violence and hidden suffering. Wambui’s case is not isolated.

The 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey shows 34 per cent of women and over one-third of men have experienced physical violence since age 15, while 13 per cent of women report sexual violence.