By Antynet Ford
The suspect in the attempted murder of Nakuru businesswoman Florence Wanjiku has been rearrested.
This is after he presented himself to his lawyers from Gakuhi Chege and Associates Advocates.
The statement confirmed that Njeru was re-arrested and is now in custody at Nakuru Police Station.
He will later be handed over to Menengai Police Station, which is handling the case.
“Today Elias Mutugi Njeru male adult and a suspect in the attempted murder case of Florence Wanjiku Gichohi reported at Menengai Police Station, surrendered at Nakuru Police Station in the company of his lawyer Gakuhi Chege and Associates Advocates. He has been re-arrested by Police and placed in custody while appearing fit, pending collection by Menengai Police Station.” the National Police Service (NPS) said in a statement.
Njeru, a church official in Nakuru, is accused of brutally stabbing Wanjiku multiple times near her home on Thursday last week before fleeing the scene.
Wanjiku, currently hospitalized, revealed that the attack stemmed from unresolved business and relationship disputes. She stated that she had ended their relationship and asked Njeru to repay the money he owed her, which reportedly triggered the violent assault.
During the attack, Wanjiku was stabbed 18 times, leaving several of her fingers severed.
“I told him it was time to call it quits, to let everything go. He also owed me money, and I was requesting that money. On my right leg, he was stabbing me and then tearing it, and so he ran away.” She told a local TV.
She has since undergone the first of several surgeries required to treat her injuries.
The assault follows a troubling pattern of gender-based violence across the country, with several similar incidents in recent months resulting in serious injury and death.
The government has pledged to tackle the growing crisis of gender-based violence, which in some cases has escalated to femicide.