Police in Thika are investigating an incident in which a Mount Kenya university student is believed to have killed his lover colleague by slitting her throat before committing suicide on Sunday night.
In what appeared like a love story gone sour, the female student was found lying in bed with her throat slit while the body of her lover was hanging on a rope from the roof of a rented room in Majengo estate.
Their friends said the two, Vasister Jepkosgei, 24 and Hillary Kipkirui, 29, have been staying together as lovers, though their relationship was stormy.
Jepkosgei studied Cosmetics while Kipkirui was a fourth-year medical student.
According to Anne Chepkengoi, a student friend, they spent the better part of Sunday with Jepkosgei, who explained to them how turbulent their relationship had been over the past few days.
She said Kipkirui then came to fetch her to go to his house at around 8pm, though they resisted.
“He seemed stressed and after asking why he was in a hurry, he said they were to handle private matters. We asked our friend not to leave but she insisted she had to. We called later that evening but their phones went unanswered. On Monday, we visited them, but the door was locked from inside. However, since their shoes were left outside, we knew something was wrong. We came back yesterday, only to be met by a strong oduor coming from their room. We called the police who came to remove their bodies,” said
Neighbours said they last saw the two together on Sunday evening, and after their house remained closed for two days, they became suspicious.
“Since Sunday night, we were surprised where they could have gone to since they are always around here. We were attracted by a foul smell coming from the house when we alerted their informed and the police,” said Stephen Kamau, one of their neighbours.
Mount Kenya University school president Obed Kaunda confirmed that the two were students from the school, adding that it was a painful loss to the institution.
Police in the company of health officers who fumigated the bodies before removing the bodies to the General Kago Hospital mortuary.
By Muoki Charles
