Woman fights for life in hospital after jilted lover chops off hands

A woman is fighting for her life in hospital after a jilted lover chopped off her hands and slashed her son with a machete on the head before committing suicide following a dispute.

The attacker is said to have committed the heinous act at their home at Rapogi village in Kamgundho location, Uriri Sub-County, Migori County.

Rose Odhiambo, who is currently receiving treatment at Migori County Referral Hospital, says she was preparing supper with her children after a long day at her farm when the incident occurred.

She says she had been living with the suspect for three years since her husband died. However, the decision by the man to bring her stepdaughter to live with them did not augur well with her.

“When I learned about it, I wanted to leave him because it was not good to be with him,” Rose says. 

She says the man has been hostile to her in the recent past and threw rotten eggs at her on different occasions. She claims the man also cut her cloth hanging lines.

“I used to report the incidents to the village elder who never took any action,” she says. 

According to Rose, it was not until the village elder found the man waiting for her along the way while carrying a machete that he believed what she has been saying and warned her to be careful.

The village elder reported the matter to the area chief who summoned the man where he admitted to having a feud with the woman. The man allegedly asked for forgiveness and vowed not to be hostile against the woman again.

Little did they know he was planning another attack.

“My daughter had gone to watch TV at a neighboring home. I told my son to prepare the morning tea. Before he could finish, I dozed off. Suddenly, I heard some loud thud and thought my son had fallen with the thermos. This is the time I realised that he had hit my son with a machete,” she says. The boy sustained deep cuts in the eye, head, and arm.

The man then proceeded to where she was and chopped off her right arm. She tried to escape but fell on the door where he continued attacking her with the machete.

Rose, who is the breadwinner of her family, was taken to Migori County Referral Hospital, with the other arm almost detached from her body.

Uriri Sub-County Police Commander Enrico Lyomu, who confirmed the incident, said the man died by suicide at the home of a lawyer where he worked, a day after attacking the woman and her son.  

“The young man feared for his life when he heard that the public wanted to lynch him,” Lyomu remarked. 

Her son was transferred to Moi Referral and Teaching Hospital in Eldoret for specialized treatment after he was found to have sustained a deep cut in the right eye.