A middle-aged man was reported to have killed his mother by beheading her in what was described as a dispute over a plate of ugali, as reported by NTV.
According to the report, enraged villagers also killed the man in Gaturo village, Murang’a County, on Saturday afternoon, shortly after he had killed his mother during a quarrel over a meal plate.
According to family members, the 68-year-old mother, identified as Magdalene Wangechi, had cooked bananas while her 36-year-old son, Patrick Irungu, demanded to be given the ugali plate, NTV noted.
“In the ensuing argument, the man, said to be a drug addict, seized a machete and beheaded his mother,” said James Njoroge, a family member, told the news outlet.
“Neighbors reported hearing a commotion followed by screams, prompting them to rush to the scene. On arrival, they found the woman lying in a pool of blood with her son standing nearby,” Deputy Commissioner for South Murang’a County, Gitonga Murungi, said.
“After neighbors recovered from the initial shock, they followed the man who had hidden outside the house in an attempt to escape,” the administrator added.
Neighbors apprehended the man in a nearby bush where he was subjected to mob justice, resulting in his death.
Murungi stated that at the time the suspect was caught, a furious group of people had already disarmed him of the murder weapon.
“It is very unfortunate that one family is now mourning the loss of two members. We also caution the public against taking the law into their own hands,” Murungi was quoted by NTV.
