Sad Incident: Man Beats and Burns 20-Year-Old Lover and His Mother in a Violent Altercation

A domestic dispute between lovers took a tragic turn as 20-year-old Mercy Momanyi found herself hospitalized with burn wounds in Kisii County.

The harrowing incident unfolded on August 22, 2023, at their residence in Mosocho, Kitutu Chache South.

Ms. Momanyi had been in a long-distance relationship with Mr. Sheldon Ombongi Okerosi for two years.

Mr. Okerosi, who had recently returned to Kenya from the United States of America (USA), made a stopover at their shared residence in Syokimau Estate, Nairobi County, before visiting his parents in Kisii County.

Reports show that Mr. Okerosi had been financially supporting Ms. Momanyi, and used to pay the rent and bills for the lover even after he left for the USA.

However, what seemed like a loving relationship took a dark turn when Ms. Momanyi discovered suggestive text messages on Mr. Okerosi’s phone, hinting at his involvement with other women.

Determined to salvage their relationship, she confronted him about the messages, leading to a heated argument. The confrontation escalated, and Mr. Okerosi turned physically violent, causing injuries to Ms. Momanyi.

In fear of the consequences of his actions, he locked Ms. Momanyi inside their bedroom to prevent her from informing his mother, Ms. Peninah Atemba, about the incident.

She remained locked in the room until 6 pm when she convinced Mr. Okerosi to open the door, expressing forgiveness and a desire to continue their relationship.

However, when she began speaking to Ms. Atemba in the kitchen, Mr. Okerosi grew suspicious of what transpired.

In a fit of rage, Mr Okerosi grabbed a pot of boiling water from the gas stove and poured it on Ms Momanyi.

“He was furious as he questioned my motives and why I had decided to go ahead and tell his mother what he had done. He then reached out for hot water which was boiling on a gas and poured it on me,” she said.

Her burns could have been worse if not for Ms. Atemba, who was standing in front of her at the time.

Undeterred by his violent actions, Mr. Okerosi continued his assault, repeatedly slamming Ms. Momanyi’s head against the floor.

“He was busy hitting my head on the floor and as I wailed for help, his sisters rushed to the scene and started calling for help. That is when he let me go,” she said.

Neighbors rushed both Ms. Momanyi and Ms. Atemba to Bosongo Hospital, where they were admitted for medical treatment.

After the assault, Sheldon exited the country, moving out of their shared home with Mercy in Syokimau, Nairobi County.

He was allowed to move out and that was the last time Sheldon was seen.

“He was here and even carried their items from the house. I personally saw him before he left,” said a neighbor who interacted with him as he was moving out.

Sheldon disappeared, severing all contact with Mercy. He has also deactivated all his social media accounts.

Shockingly, the incident was not reported to the police until four days later when Ms. Momanyi’s sister filed a report at Mosocho Police Station.

The case has been recorded under Occurrence Book (OB) number 9/27/8/2023. The suspect remained missing throughout this time and had not communicated with the victim.

Doctors at the hospital reported that Ms. Momanyi suffered burns covering 10 percent of her body, and her health is gradually improving.

The family is now seeking financial assistance to cover the substantial medical bills and to pursue justice for the victim.

“We are happy that my sister is now getting better, and all I can say for now is that it will be better if she gets justice. The hospital bill is also very high, and we are seeking help to clear the bills,” Mercy’s sister said.