Kenya, March 15 -- A tragic incident has rocked Kakamega County after a 19-year-old Form 4 student allegedly killed his 16-year-old Form 2 girlfriend following a dispute over her refusal to abort a pregnancy he is said to have fathered.
The incident, which occurred late Thursday evening, has left the local community in shock and reignited debates over teenage relationships and gender-based violence.
According to police reports, the suspect, a student at a local secondary school, confronted his girlfriend at her home after she declined his repeated demands to terminate the pregnancy.
Witnesses claim an argument escalated into a violent altercation, during which the 19-year-old allegedly stabbed the girl multiple times with a kitchen knife.
She succumbed to her injuries before neighbors could rush her to a nearby health facility.
Kakamega County Police Commander Joseph Ole Seme confirmed the arrest of the suspect, who is currently in custody awaiting formal charges.
"We are investigating the circumstances that led to this heinous act. The suspect will face the full force of the law," Seme told reporters on Friday morning.
A postmortem examination is scheduled to determine the exact cause of death, while authorities have also launched a probe into the couple's relationship and the events leading up to the killing.
The victim's family expressed devastation, describing her as a bright and ambitious student with dreams of becoming a nurse.
"She didn't deserve this. How could someone so young do this to her?" her mother wept, speaking outside their home where a small crowd had gathered to mourn.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.