A 19-year-old student has been arrested for stabbing his 22-year-old former lover and high school student, to death.
Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigation said 19-year-old Tony Kiptoo of Keben secondary school, stabbed his ex-lover Irene Chelagat on the left side of her chest, killing her on the spot after she allegedly turned down his romantic advances.
School officials described Chelagat as a diligent and hardworking student, who performed exceptionally in his English subject.
Investigations by the DCI show that Kiptoo had premeditated Chelagat’s murder as he had wished her “peace in death by inscribing the initials R.I.P on a photo later discovered in his cubicle.”
It was also learnt that the young couple had been in a strained relationship before calling it quits and Chelagat had since moved on. However, Kiptoo could not bear it and became furious after discovering that his former lover had found a new “catch”, who also bought her a new smartphone.
The statement read;
A village in Sosiot Kericho county has been plunged into mourning after a form three student murdered his classmate over a relationship gone sour. In the incident that occurred yesterday morning at Keben Secondary school, 19-year-old Tony Kiptoo, stabbed Irene Chelagat, 22, on the left side of her chest killing her on the spot for turning down his romantic overtures.
Kiptoo, who was determined to end Chelagat’s life had carried a kitchen knife from home to school and committed the horrific act just before the morning lessons began. Irate classmates descended on Kiptoo as others screamed attracting the attention of the teacher on duty Kenneth Korir, who was at the staff room preparing for the day’s lessons.
He immediately rushed to the classroom and found the suspect being roughed up as other students were trying to assist the victim, who was bleeding profusely. Together, they rushed Chelagat to Sosiot medical centre where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
Preliminary investigations by our detectives based in Belgut indicate that the two had been in a love relationship that had since ran its course and the lady had moved on. With the pain of rejection too much bear, Kiptoo who had already wished his estranged girlfriend peace in death by inscribing the initials R.I.P on a photo later discovered in his cubicle, carried his mother’s vegetable knife and left for school.
According to the deceased’s classmates, Kiptoo became furious after discovering that his former lover had found a new catch, who had since bought her a new smartphone. Mr Korir, who is still reeling from loss of one of his students described Chelagat as a diligent and hardworking student, who performed exceptionally in his English subject.
Meanwhile, the murder suspect is currently in court as detectives seek custodial orders to allow them prepare a watertight case against him.