Christmas Cheers Turn to Tears: Man Fatally Stabbed in Kirinyaga After KSh 60 Dispute

A small disagreement, a deadly outcome: Peter Wanyeki stabbed to death in Kirinyaga on Christmas Day.

A festive Christmas Day turned tragic for one family in Kirinyaga after a disagreement over a small bar bill escalated into deadly violence.

Police in Kirinyaga West Sub‑County have launched an urgent manhunt for a 40‑year-old woman, Edith Muthoni, who is suspected of stabbing her 52‑year-old lover, Peter Mwangi Wanyeki, to death during an argument at a local bar in Muragara Shopping Centre on December 25.

According to eyewitness accounts, the confrontation began over a KSh 60 tab for alcohol the two had consumed, but the situation quickly spiraled out of control. Moments later, Muthoni allegedly grabbed a kitchen knife reportedly being used earlier for Christmas food preparation and stabbed Wanyeki in the chest. He died instantly at the scene.

One witness, Florence Mureithi, described the shock of the moment:

“I had been using the knife to cut potatoes when she suddenly picked it up,”

she told police.

Wanyeki’s family, who were celebrating the holiday at their rural home, were left devastated by the news. His brother, Robert Wanyeki, recalled the moment he received the fatal phone call: “We were together enjoying Christmas when I received a call informing me that my brother had been killed,” he said. Another relative, Kaburu Gatimu, said he found the victim lying in a pool of blood and called for justice for what he described as an unnecessary killing.

Kirinyaga West Sub‑County Police Commander Jos Mudavadi confirmed that detectives are pursuing all leads and urged members of the public to share information that could help locate the suspect, who fled the scene after the incident. The deceased’s body has since been taken to a local mortuary as investigations continue.

As the search intensifies, the community is left grappling with how a festive gathering deteriorated into an episode of violence a stark reminder of how quickly disputes can take tragic turns.

Reporting by: Babz Abdul Raheem N.
Date: December 27, 2025