Love triangle mooted in death of hubby shot 12 times by policewoman

The murder of a man, who was shot 12 times by his policewoman wife in Eldoret on Saturday night, is thought to have been the result of ongoing family issues and conflicts.

Victor Kipchumba was shot 12 times in their leased home in the Kimumu neighbourhood along the Eldoret-Iten Road by Lilly Biwott, a 33-year-old police officer assigned to the Central police station in Eldoret, before she managed to flee.

The pair, according to both neighbours and family members, frequently argued over infidelity while harbouring suspicions of a love triangle.

The 36-year-old son and his wife, according to Kipchumba's family, had often threatened to murder each other over personal disputes.

According to a report given to the police and recorded at the OB, Biwott admitted to the police that she had an argument with her husband the day before before leaving for work at around 5.30 p.m.

Later, after midnight, she made the decision to return to the rental home where she was staying with her children to check on them when her husband suddenly attacked her with a knife and tried to stab her, prompting her to shoot him dead in self defence.

According to Stephen Okal, the commander of the Moiben Sub-County Police, the officer said that her husband had threatened to kill her with a knife and that she had responded by firing the rifle she had been given.

"The rifle and knife are among items recovered from the scene and the mater is now under investigations," Okal said.

Biwott turned herself in to police on Monday at her Central police station headquarters, where she had been detained for an arraignment.

The dead was discovered by responding officers laying on his bed, facing downward, in a pool of blood with multiple gunshot wounds.

At the location, an Ak 47 rifle with the serial number KE Ap 59010335 and 11 cartridges and 3 bullet heads were found.

The deceased's neighbour and friend, Alex Kibet, claimed they went out drinking together before coming home to their estate at 10 o'clock on Saturday.

The deceased went to his apartment while Kibet went to his. Later, when there was a disturbance, he stepped outside and discovered police officers.

Kibet said a year ago, the deceased told him he had a problem in their house and wanted to move out and look for another house.

"I did not follow up and he did not move out" the friend said. 

An uncle to the deceased Isaac Sorgor said as a family, they had severally tried to sort out frequent violent disputes between the two.

"We succeeded to reconcile them severally but on many occasions she told me that she would kill her husband," Sorgor said.

"On three occasions she told me that she would kill him" he added.

Another uncle Phillip Chesire regretted the incident saying they had tried in vain to reconcile the two who quarrelled over many issues.

Vincent Shaba who is a caretaker at the house where the couple lived said they had been accusing each other of many issues including infidelity in marriage.

"At some point mid this year, the woman complained at Ainabtich police station over threats by her husband to kill her," Shaba said.

He said the two had quarrelled over an alleged love affair between the man and their house help. " They always accused each other over love matters and other issues. I was among those called to their house severally to help sort out issues," Shaba said.

Shaba said the man had also claimed that his wife had extra marital affairs. He said his landlord had even advised the two to separate if they were unable to live together. 

The couple had been married for over 10 years and had three children. They had lived at the rental house where the incident occurred for about four years.

After the incident, the suspect called her relatives and informed them to pick the children who were in the house asleep at the time of the incident.

When journalists visited the house, a house help to the couple who was present during the incident had also been taken away by relatives of the suspect.