A somber mood engulfed the family of Andrew Wekesa when the body of his dear wife was found at a Kiminini river in Trans Nzoia County on Saturday.
The woman was a laboratory technician who went missing for the past one week prompting close associates to start a thorough search of her following her absence both at home and school.
Her 22 year old son who had threatened to kill her after sharp disagreements over theft of farm produce disappeared when his mother went missing.
Kiminini Sub County Police Commander John Onditi confirmed the incident Sunday saying the suspect, 22 year old Brian Wafula who is the prime suspect is being sought in connection to her disappearance and death.
The deceased, Judith Nafula Konya according to the police boss went missing on the 18th October, 2022 at night.
Family and friends said it was quite unusual for the 50- year old mother who had dedicated her life to church work to just disappear without telling anyone.
’It is unbelievable that Judith could have left her house without telling anyone, it is shocking to us who knew her, ‘’ said St. Josephs’ Girls Principal Rosebella Orwaru.
Mrs. Orwaru added that Mrs. Konya who was a laboratory technician in her school was a team player who for many years of service had dedicated herself to her work and in church where she served as a leader of the Catholic Women Association CWA.
She said the lab technician had prepared specimens for the form four Biology mock tests only not to turn up on the day of practicals.
‘’We have lost a faithful and dedicated long serving member of staff, she left at a time when the school needed her most, God rest her soul in eternal peace,’’ said the Chief Principal.
The deceased’s husband Andrew Wanjala Wekesa in an interview at their Bondeni home expressed shock at the death of his wife.
‘’My wife visited me at my place of work and reported to me about the threats she had received from our son Brian,’’ he narrated
The body of his wife, he said, was found yesterday evening when a child in the neighborhood rushed to break news of a floating person in the river.
He said that items found in a bag belonging to his son proved beyond reasonable doubt that he was the prime suspect.
‘’My son escaped to Eldoret where he left a bag containing his keys, keys of our main house and other items that pointed to his involvement in the death of my wife.’’ Explained Wekesa.
He called for the quick arrest of his son whom he said is an addict of hard drugs.
‘’We found so many leftovers of bhang and other hard drugs in his house. He has been in this for long and he must have killed the mother because of her resistance to his involvement in drugs,’’ he added.
Ms. Justine Nekesa Konya, the deceased’s sister, recounted how her sister had informed her during their telephone conversations how her son had threatened to kill her.
Kiminini Sub County Police Commander John Onditi during an interview said the deceased’s husband Andrew Wanjala Wekesa reported to police about his missing wife on 20th October, 2022 after fruitless efforts to find her.
He said the body of the deceased was found in the river at her Nyalugunga home in Baraton location in Kiminini Sub County on Saturday evening.
The police boss decried the increasing rate of youth involvement in drug abuse in the area and called for concerted efforts from parents and members of the public to have guiding and counseling centers put up to help end the vice.
‘’We all need to be organized in order to brainstorm together on the importance of having a crime free society. Many youths are selling farm produce to buy drugs,’’ he said.
He described the act as worrying, pointing out that most of the crimes recorded in the Sub County were carried out by youths who participate in the use of illicit drugs.
The body of the deceased was taken to Mount Elgon hospital mortuary awaiting autopsy.