‘I can’t walk, go for long call’, woman glued in genitals by husband says, reveals she’s yet to be hospitalised 10 days on

By , K24 Digital
On Tue, 26 May, 2020 13:01 | 3 mins read
James Kifo Muriuki, 33, is accused of sexually assaulting his wife, Charity Wairimu, on May 16, 2020 in Tharaka-Nithi. [PHOTO | FILE]
James Kifo Muriuki, 33, is accused of sexually assaulting his wife, Charity Wairimu, on May 16, 2020 in Tharaka-Nithi. [PHOTO | FILE]
James Kifo Muriuki, 33, is accused of sexually assaulting his wife, Charity Wairimu, on May 16, 2020 in Tharaka-Nithi. [PHOTO | FILE]

Twenty three-year-old Charity Wairimu, who was sexually assaulted by her husband, James Kifo Muriuki, on May 16, has revealed that she is yet to get medical treatment ten days after the beastly incident happened.

Kifo is alleged to have sprayed his wife’s private parts with pepper and salt before applying superglue in her, accusing the spouse of infidelity. The incident occurred in Marimanti area in Tharaka-Nithi County on the night of May 16.

After filing a report of the incident at a Tharaka South Sub-County police post, it was reported that Wairimu was hospitalised at Nairobi Women’s medical facility, and her condition was improving following her admission. Wairimu, however, reveals that she has since retreated to her mother’s home in Nyandarua, and that she is yet to get any medical help.

“I cried a lot when I saw news that I am getting treatment at the said-hospital while I know very well that I am at my mother’s home suffering since I cannot walk or go for a long call due to pain. My parents, who depend on casual jobs, cannot afford to take me to better hospital for treatment,” told People Daily.

Wairimu is appealing to well-wishers help her get medical assistance.

'Husband's love for the dark powers'

The mother-of-one also revealed, in the interview, that her husband had a penchant for the occult, and would often visit witchdoctors’ dens to get “dark powers”,

It is these powers that have enabled Kifo to escape justice over previous brushes with the law, Wairimu said.

The assault victim admitted her marriage to James Kifo Muriuki, 33, from Tharaka-Nithi, was troubled because she questioned his regular visits to witchdoctors and rebuffed attempts to join him.

The 23-year-old said Kifo evaded prosecution over previous crimes by using witchcraft.

“I was not shocked when I heard he was arrested while undergoing some rituals in a witchdoctor’s home in Kitui because I know this is what he does to cheat justice but God is good he did not succeed because what he did to me is inhumane.

“I have never cheated on him. He believes so much in superstitions and witchcraft he often sought help from the men and women of that nature, especially when he was in conflict with the law,” she said.

Wairimu alleged that whenever she questioned him over his ungodly ways, he would beat her up but she would not leave him because she loved him. 

“I knew what he was doing was not good, but I would not run away because I loved him but prayed for him that one day he would change,” she added.

But now, she says, the marriage is over and she would never dare go back to him.

Kifo was on May 21 arrested by a team of detectives from Nairobi and Marimanti at a famous witchdoctor’s den at Kaningo in Tsekuru, Kitui County.

The wife now says the man has been a frequent visitor to witchdoctors’ homes in Tharaka and neighbouring Ukambani regions. 

However, James Murogi Maingi, the witchdoctor in whose home the suspect was arrested on Thursday, told People Daily that he was a herbalist.

Murogi, 50, said Muriuki had spent a day in his place and paid Ksh10, 000 for his services, but denied knowing him.

Kifo is now in police custody after he was arraigned in an Embu court last Friday, May 22, where he denied sexually assaulting her.

He was previously charged with robbery with violence but the case ended when he visited a renowned witchdoctor in Tharaka where he bought a goat and paid Ksh5, 000, the family says.

Wairimu says his name evokes fear among residents of Marimanti, where he owns some rental premises.

“His belief in dark forces has made him spend a lot of money while sourcing for help.

On one occasion he met conmen who swindled him a lot of money under the guise of helping him getting supernatural powers,” she said.

Police files

Area police boss Kiprop Rutto said they would have to go back to police files to confirm whether the suspect had any pending cases.

“We know he is a criminal, but we will have to go back to the files to find out the nature of the crimes he had committed and if he was charged in court or not,” said Rutto.

Kifo studied in juvenile primary school after he was accused of stealing a teacher’s bicycle at Nkondi Primary School.

He attended Tharaka Boys, Turima High and later at Kiriria Day School where he completed Form Four.

The suspect and his wife met at Marimanti Market in 2016, when she was only 17 years old. She had come to visit her elder sister.

They dated for eight months and relocated to Nairobi’s Utawala Estate, where they have been living for the last four years.