Woman detained for killing a neighbour who ridiculed her for marrying a ‘toothless’ old man
Cynthia Akinyi is now in custody at Kayole police station where the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is investigating the murder of Nova Benta
A youthful woman who allegedly assaulted her neighbour for telling her that she is married to an “incapable” old man is in trouble after the neighbor died while undergoing treatment.
Cynthia Akinyi is now in custody at Kayole police station where the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is investigating the murder of Nova Benta.
Makadara law courts Senior Resident Magistrate Praxedes Anduke allowed the DCI to hold the suspect for 10 days only.
The deceased died while undergoing treatment at the Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital (MLKH) in Embakasi where she had been rushed by a police officer and relatives who found her unconscious at her house.
She had sustained injuries after she was overpowered and injured by Akinyi during a fight at her house. Benta as allegedly assaulted inside her house as witnessed by two neighbours.
The neighbours – Alex Kyalo Mutuku and Jones Muthui reported the matter at Obama police station after witnessing the incident, the second time the deceased was assaulted allegedly by the suspect.
Police constables Nelson Koech of Kayole DCI offices told a Makadara law court in affidavit that the two men informed the police they had seen Akinyi assaulting Benta twice and Muthui tried to intervene without success.
The two went to Benta’s house for the second time when she made a distress call being allegedly assaulted by Akinyi, and found her writhing in pain prompting them to report to police on June 25, 2025.
“After the report was made, a police officer from Obama police station proceeded to the deceased’s house. The police officer with the help of deceased’s relatives took her to MLKH where she was admitted,” states Koch in the affidavit.
“On July 3, the officer from Obama police station was informed that the victim had died and the matter was handed over to Kayole DCI to carry out investigations and investigations commenced.”
Koech said that Akinyi surrendered to Obama police station on July 4, where she was arrested and escorted to Kayole police station for interrogation.
The detective said he is investigating a case of murder contrary to section 203 as read with section 204 of the Penal Code and was seeking custodial orders to detain the suspect for 14 days to conclude investigations into the murder.
The remaining part of investigations includes collecting Benta’s treatment notes at the MLKH, recording statements from witnesses including Mutuku and Muthui, the officer at Obama police station who took the deceased to hospital as well as medics at the MLKH among others.
The investigations will also include conducting a postmortem to establish the cause of the deceased’s death and forwarding the investigations file to the office of Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for perusal and determination.
