In a bizarre and unsettling turn of events, a man identified as Paul Thuo Karanja, 28, has been accused of brutally stabbing his 81-year-old grandmother multiple times on her head and back.
What makes this case even more unusual is his claim that his grandmother had supposedly bewitched him, leading to his alleged assault on her.
The shocking claims surfaced during a court hearing at the Makadara Law Courts, where Mr. Karanja faced charges of assaulting and injuring his own grandmother in Kiamaiko area of Huruma within Mathare Sub County in Nairobi on August 21, 2023.
The elderly complainant, who was also present in court, recounted that Mr. Karanja not only attacked her with a knife but also attempted to slit her throat.
He reportedly threatened to harm her and the entire family. However, Mr. Karanja vehemently denied these allegations and instead accused his grandmother of having connections with witches.
On the day of the incident, the elderly woman had visited her rental properties after being summoned by a Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company official regarding water connection matters.
While within her property, Mr. Karanja allegedly confronted her with a knife. Despite her efforts to defend herself, he overpowered her and carried out the brutal stabbing. Bystanders intervened, saving her from further harm.
Following the attack, the victim was promptly taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention. She was treated and discharged, subsequently reporting the incident to Huruma Police Station.
Investigations later revealed that Mr. Karanja had been demanding a share of property from his grandmother.
He had previously caused damage to some of the houses, resulting in a police intervention that resolved the matter. The complainant possessed a document signed by Mr. Karanja, in which he promised to cease interfering with her property. The reported case was subsequently withdrawn.
Mr. Karanja was remanded in custody by Senior Principal Magistrate Gerald Mutiso. The court ordered a pre-bail report to determine appropriate bail and bond terms for the suspect. The case is scheduled for mention on September 15, 2023, during which the probation department will present a social inquiry report. The victim’s cousin, who serves as the caretaker of her rental properties, has been listed as a witness alongside the victim herself.
