Man, 37, on the run after strangling, hacking wife and setting house on fire

A 35-year old woman from Gwa Kungu village in Nyahururu, Laikipia County is nursing serious injuries sustained during a domestic altercation with her estranged husband who reportedly used a panga to inflict deep cuts on her.

The victim, Lucy Muthoni; a mother of four, is recuperating at Nyahururu County and Referral Hospital while police have launched a manhunt for her husband, James Kariuki, 37, who fled after committing the gruesome offence on Tuesday.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, Muthoni claimed that Kariuki initially attempted to strangle her with a rope but she managed to fend him off, prompting the assailant to leave the scene and return with a panga which he used to attack her.

Muthoni also claimed that Kariuki came back with a jerrycan of petrol which he used to set their house ablaze before escaping

Muthoni's daughter however raised alarm drawing the attention of neighbours who quickly extinguished the flames and rushed the pair to hospital.

According to Muthoni's brother, James Mwaura, his sister and Kariuki have been experiencing domestic issues for several years despite numerous attempts to reconcile them.

The incident comes in the wake of increased gender-based violence cases in Nyandarua County, where numerous cases involving couples have been reported.

Leaders and activists in the region have sounded the alarm and urged for united efforts to combat the vice.