Kenya, Aug. 25 -- In a horrifying incident, ex-police officer Cyprian Mukoye was arrested for killing his wife, Susan Nabwire, with an axe in Nairobi's Pipeline estate on August 13, 2025. The 44-year-old also faces charges for sexually assaulting the family's house help and locking her with his one-year-old child and Nabwire's body before fleeing.
This chilling Cyprian Mukoye Pipeline murder case has gripped Kenya, sparking outrage over rising gender-based violence and leaving a community in shock.
The brutal attack, unfolding in the Kware area, has become a focal point for discussions on domestic violence and accountability.
The tragedy began when Mukoye returned home in a rage, suspecting Nabwire, a 27-year-old M-Pesa agent, of infidelity. According to the house help's account, he demanded her phone, passwords, and M-Pesa PIN, escalating into a violent confrontation.
Around 3 a.m., Mukoye retrieved an axe from the bathroom, striking Nabwire on the neck, causing fatal injuries. He then allegedly strangled her with a rope and stabbed her near the eyes, as recounted by the victim's mother, Philice Makokha.
The house help, witnessing the horror, was then sexually assaulted before being locked inside with the child and Nabwire's body, hidden under the bed.
Mukoye fled, taking their phones, delaying discovery until neighbours alerted police.
Nabwire, a hardworking mother who ran an M-Pesa shop at Machakos Country Bus, was the family's breadwinner. Mukoye, once a police officer but working as a casual labourer after losing his job, left their one-year-old daughter orphaned.
Police broke into the house, finding the gruesome scene, and transported Nabwire's body to Mama Lucy Hospital mortuary. The Cyprian Mukoye arrest news spread rapidly, with locals amplifying the tragedy and fueling calls for justice.
The case highlights a growing trend of domestic violence in Kenya, with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics noting a surge in gender-based violence since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Public sentiment on platforms reflects anger and grief, with many demanding severe punishment for Mukoye, now detained at Embakasi Police Station.
The house help's trauma and the child's loss have intensified calls for support systems like the National GBV Helpline (1195) and organisations such as FIDA Kenya.
The case shows the need for early intervention in domestic disputes to prevent such tragedies. The Cyprian Mukoye Pipeline murder case has exposed the dark reality of gender-based violence, leaving a family shattered and a nation demanding justice.
Nabwire's memory as a devoted mother fuels calls for systemic change. Mukoye's arrest for killing his wife with an axe and assaulting the house help marks a critical moment for addressing domestic violence.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.