BY WINSTONE MUSISI
A 60-year old woman accused of killing her 80-year-old mother over food was on Thursday, January 6, 2022, arraigned in Eldoret court.
The accused, Jane Kiplagat, who is a widow is alleged to have murdered her mother, Kabon Cherop, on the fateful night of November 28, 2021, in Waon village Keiyo South constituency, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
The accused who went back to her parent’s home after losing her husband is said to have waylaid her mother as she went to answer a call of nature and cut her head and both hands, an action that led to the deceased’s instant death.
She is said to have gotten angry and brutally killed her mother with a machete after the deceased told her to go look for food instead of depending on her to feed her like a child.
The deceased has been grueling with her widowed daughter over food as she castigated the accused of not doing anything to bring food on the table after abandoning her matrimonial home.
When she was presented before Duty Judge Luke Kimaru, it emerged that she was not fit to plead to murder charge following the outcome of a report from Iten County Referral Hospital where she had been taken for mental assessment.
Justice Kimaru directed that taken to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret for review of her mental status.
“I direct that the suspect be taken to MTRH in Eldoret for review of her mental status before she is returned to court on 9th February to take a plea in connection with the murder of her mother” ruled Justice Kimaru.
The accused will be detained at Eldoret GK women prison pending her arraignment in court where she is expected to take plea for murder.