Kirinyaga Police Launch Manhunt After Christmas Day Stabbing Over KSh 60 Debt

MURANG’A, Kirinyaga County — Authorities in Kirinyaga County have initiated an intensive search for a female suspect wanted in connection with a fatal stabbing that occurred on Christmas Day, following an argument over an unpaid bill of KSh 60.

The incident, which took place on Thursday, December 25, at a local drinking establishment, claimed the life of a man who suffered fatal stab wounds during the altercation. Law enforcement officials confirmed that the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to eyewitness accounts, the confrontation began when the deceased refused to settle a small bar tab. The situation deteriorated when the victim allegedly became physically aggressive toward the woman, who is reported to have been romantically involved with him.

“He declined to pay the amount owed and became confrontational with the woman. I stepped in and advised him to stop the physical assault. Moments later, I heard him cry out that he had been wounded,” a witness at the scene reported.

A family member of the deceased, who was celebrating the holiday in the vicinity, described hearing a disturbance in the area. Upon arriving at the location, he discovered his cousin had sustained fatal injuries and had already died.

The suspect left the scene immediately following the incident and her current whereabouts remain unknown. Police officials are appealing to community members to come forward with any information that might assist in locating the fugitive as the investigation proceeds.

The victim’s remains have been transferred to a local mortuary for preservation pending autopsy examination.

This tragedy represents the latest in a disturbing pattern of violent incidents linked to minor financial disagreements in the region. Two months prior, in November 2025, another fatal stabbing occurred in Kiawaruguru village, Kirinyaga Central, where a man lost his life over a KSh 50 dispute with an acquaintance. Similarly, in 2023, a woman from the county fatally stabbed her partner following a domestic disagreement before voluntarily turning herself in to authorities.

The recurring nature of these violent episodes has prompted community leaders to call for restraint among residents, encouraging them to pursue peaceful conflict resolution methods. Officials have emphasized the importance of involving local administrators and law enforcement when disputes cannot be settled through dialogue.