How Ivy Wangechi's Hug To Another Man Drove Naftali Kinuthia To Kill Her

Naftali Kinuthia, the main suspect in the killing of Moi University medical student, Ivy Wangechi in April 2019, confessed to killing her and expressed his regret over the incident.

Kinuthia gave his final defence evidence in the murder case which is being heard by Justice Stephen Githinji at an Eldoret Court on Friday, March 3, almost four years since the murder took place.

He traced his relationship with the late Wangechi all the way to their childhood days in primary school, adding that before her demise, she borrowed him Ksh28,000 to fund her birthday party which he agreed to. 

"She said she planned to have a big party because it was supposed to be the last one with her friends, so she told me she's planning to spend Ksh28,000, that was her budget. She asked me if I could support her with the funds and I accepted," he recalled in part.

Naftali Kinuthia talks to his lawyer at the High Court in Eldoret on April 15, 2019. /FILE

He further recalled how he had travelled all the way from Nairobi to Eldoret to wish her happy birthday, after funding the party, and seeing his intimate lover and long-time friend hugging another man.

This was despite their relationship being estranged to the point that she had blocked his number for some time making it impossible for him to reach her.

Kinuthia aded that he tried severally to reconcile their differences and communicated to her through a friend identified as Mary Ann Chepkoech. He had asked Chepkoech to convince Wangechi that they meet and talk out but it did not materialize.

He sent her Ksh14,000, promising to deliver the balance on April 10, 2019, which was her birthday. However, Wangechi blocked him and on April 4, Kinuthia made the journey to Eldoret without her knowledge.

Wangechi had refused to meet him to sort out their differences, a matter which made Kinuthia to travel to Eldoret in his car and then to the medical school where he parked and locate Wangechi in person and deliver the balance himself.

“I wanted to wish her happy birthday and also inform her that I would not attend the party because I was to travel back to Nairobi immediately for work. I also wanted to deliver the balance for the party personally," he went on.

While near the hostels, he ran into Wangechi who was surprised to see him and revealed to him that her new boyfriend would take care of the remaining costs. She proceeded to chase him away from the party, a matter that made him realise that she cut all ties with him.

“She told me that I was not invited to the party and that I should immediately leave. I was so shocked by what she was saying. At that point I didn't even answer I knew she had burned all the bridges and there was no way I would restore our relationship.

“In my mind, I felt like a loser and hopeless because of what she said. I became angry and felt bad that the connection we had since 1998 had suddenly come to an end,” he continued.

He returned to his car and decided that he would never talk to her again. While inside the car, he looked back and saw her hugging and holding hands with a male friend around 50 meters away, a man whom he later determined as Andrew Macharia.

It was here that he lost control and was clouded by so much anger over the events that he was unable to describe how he reached out for the axe to attack her. He noted thst the axe had been in his car for over a year and he had bought it for his own security because of working at night many times.

Kinuthia revealed that he was attacked after the incident by members of the public and sustained injuries as well as lost consciousness from the beatings he received.

He was rescued by a police officer and taken to the Moi Referral Hospital for treatment, and after regaining consciousness, was told that Wangechi had died.

He expressed his regret over the incident, adding that he was overwhelmed by the anger over what he termed as a love relationship gone sour. 

"This is an incident that I have regretted forever. After thinking about it and reflecting, I knew it would not have happened and there were many ways to get around this situation without causing the death of an innocent person.

Side by side image of the late Ivy Wangechi. /TV47 DIGITAL

"Since that day, I felt like I've done something...causing the death of a person is very unacceptable in the society so it's like I've been secluded from the society," he narrated.

Kinuthia added that during his time in prison, he was informed that his father had passed away while battling a lung disease, which made him realise not only the pain of losing a loved one, but the pain surrounding the victim’s family especially after his actions.

The case will be mentioned on April 25, 2023 for final submissions before the judgement.