Nairobi businessman pleads with court to save him from his ‘violent and abusive’ wife
Kimuyu emotionally narrated how she has neglected him and their three children accusing her of being violent
A businessman charged with assault after fighting with his estranged wife denied the charges when he appeared before a Makadara law court and urged the court to rescue him from his “violent and abusive” wife.
Victor Kimuyu, 48, told Chief Magistrate Beatrice Kimemia that he has suffered domestic gender-based violence for a long time and a court order he obtained to bar his wife from his house has not helped him.
He shared a copy of the court orders from High Court Family Division, which he said have not saved him from his wife’s brutality.
Struggling to speak audibly and stand upright in the dock, Kimuyu said his last hopes are on the court as he is no longer able to defend himself from his wife, Jackline Kivele Munguti.
The two were separately charged with unlawfully assaulting and causing actual bodily harm to each other, after fighting at Kimuyu’s house in Tassia Estate, within Embakasi East Sub County, Nairobi on June 19. Kivele also denied assaulting and injuring her husband.
Kimuyu emotionally appealed to the court to protect him from Kivele, who he said has neglected him and their three children accusing her of being violent.
Kimuyu, who appeared frail, told Kimemia that he has suffered heavily under his wife’s alleged brutality, adding that she has defied orders restraining her from accessing his home and any other space.
“This court is the only hope for me. I am sickly and I have lost all energy. I am taking care of my three children aged alone and I suffer hypertension which has slowed everything in my life,” said Kimuyu who was visibly struggling to remain standing in the dock and speak audibly.
He told the court that the three children aged 16, 10 and four were left under care of a home assistant hire by his uncle to temporarily take care of them.
Kimuyu asked for a lenient bail and bond terms to enable him prepare and raise fees for his children who are going back to school in the next two weeks.
He had been released on a police cash bail of Sh8,000 and prayed that the same be retained as cash bail in court and Kimemia agreed.
They are both charged with unlawfully assaulting and causing actual bodily harm to each other in contravention to section 251 of the Penal Code.
On the fateful night, Kimuyu had returned home at around 5pm only to find some chairs missing from the house.
His enstranged wife turned up at 10:30pm and a quarrel between them followed after Kimuyu learnt that Kivele had given out the chairs.
Kimuyu was allegedly beaten up after demanding for his chairs but Kivele told the investigators that she was defending herself.
Their fight was stopped by neighbours who intervened and the incident was reported at Tassia police post.
Kivele was released on a bond of Sh100, 000 and an alternative cash bail of Sh30, 000.
Her case will be mentioned on August 27 before hearing starts on December 31 while that of Kimuyu will be mentioned on September 4 before hearing starts on October 29.
The Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has indicated plans to drop the charges against Kimuyu.
