Ndudi Anyim
A Catholic Priest, Kevin Kipkoech has allegedly suffocated a mother and her son before committing suicide at the Government Quarters on Nairobi’s Jogoo Road.
Preliminary investigations revealed Charity Cheboi and her son Allan Kipngetich, were killed at their home, 24 hours after the priest came to visit.
It was gathered that Kipkoech, was in his eighth grade at St Thomas of Aquinas Seminary in Karen, Nairobi, and was billed to graduate later this year.
The police were reportedly alerted of the killings by the husband of the deceased, Kipngetich’s Kenneth Kiptanui, who lives in another town.
Kiptanui found the deceased persons when he visited his home, after he was informed by his son’s school that his son had been absent from school for days.
Police team said they established Kipkoech had locked himself in the toilet using a lock. It is in the toilet where his body was found.
A white substance was also found in the family bedroom, as police interrogated neighbours on the said crime.
“ Had there been another party in the house there is no way he or she could have locked the toilet from inside. It seems it is the deceased man who locked it to enhancers his mission to die.
“ The detectives from Homicide Unit say they have, however, not established the motive of the murder and suicide. They plan to visit St Thomas of Aquinas Seminary in Karen, Nairobi, to get more information on his character.
“ We don’t know if he was jinxed because he was to graduate and be a priest or there was any other issue. We intend to dig further on his character,” a police source stated.
The source disclosed that the homicide team handed over the case to their Buruburu counterparts to continue and close the file as they concluded it was murder and suicide case.
“ The suspects and the deceased come from the same village. The investigations had found out that Cheboi and Kipngetich died out of smothering. This occurs when one is killed by covering their nose and mouth so that they suffocate, ” the source added.
Government chief pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor said a hand or a cloth was placed on the mouth and nose of the mother and son to deny them oxygen.
“ The boy had injuries on the neck and mouth while the mother had superficial subcutaneous injuries on her right upper arm an indication she was defending herself before she died, ” the pathologist added.
Dr Oduor said the priest to be had cherry red tissues, which are found in the body of a person who has died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
“ The gentleman died because of carbon monoxide poisoning. I have gotten information that some jiko was found next to him.
“ The mother and son died earlier than the man. This is because there was advanced decomposition on the two bodies while that of the man was fairly fresh. He might have died a day after the others,” said Oduor.