Upkeep money leads to murder, suicide of a mother and her baby

There was shock at a village in Homa Bay County after a mother and her baby girl were found dead in a manner suspected to be murder and suicide that resulted from a love triangle.

The woman identified as Christine Awuor, 23, and her six month old daughter Shaniz Randy were found dead at Gateway Village in the outskirts of Sindo Town, Suba Central Sub-county.

Awuor’s body was found dangling on a sisal rope that was tied to the roof in her rental house on Monday evening.

Randy’s body was found on the floor. It is suspected that Awuor strangled Randy before she took away her life.

It was reported that Awuor decided to commit the ordeal after she got infuriated that her boyfriend who impregnated her was not providing her with resources for upkeep adequately.

According to the area Sub-county Police Commander Caxton Ndunda, Awuor left a note which accused the boyfriend of failing to provide her and her child with upkeep despite being the child’s father.

“The woman left a suicide note in which she indicated that her boyfriend who impregnated her had refused to take care of her and the baby. This is what is suspected to have been the reason for her suicide,” Ndunda said.

Ndunda said the woman ought to have sought a solution from government officials, elders, families or religious leaders.

“If the upkeep was the issue, the woman ought to have come to our officers to refer her to the department of children for assistance. I tell residents that suicide does not solve any problem. Let them seek guidance and counseling from leaders in the society,” Ndunda said.

Awuor who is a resident of Suna East Sub-county in Migori County was operating an M-PESA shop in Sindo Town.

 It seemed Awuor had a protracted love issues with the boyfriend.

According to the Assistant Chief of Sindo Sub-location Caroline Ngere, Awuor used to complain of the boyfriend’s conduct.

At one time, she had accused him in the local administrator’s office over what was happening in their relationship.

“It seemed the woman loved her boyfriend so much. She had raised complaints in our office and the complaints revolved around love issues. At times she could complain that the man was not receiving her calls,” Ngere said.

She advised that love issues should not culminate in suicide.

“Most of the current youth are high tempered. Let them reduce their temper and seek advice whenever they face problems in the society,” Ngere said.

The bodies were moved to Suba Sub-county Hospital Mortuary in Sindo Town.