Shock gripped residents of Free Area Township in Nakuru on Thursday after the decomposing body of an 84-year-old man was found in his house where his wife was living without raising the alarm.
The body of Peter Njeru was discovered by neighbours after his wife called one of them to her house to inform them that he died on Wednesday night.
To the shock of the neighbour, she discovered that the body of the elderly man had actually started decomposing and part of the face had been 'eaten’ by what locals believe to be rats.
Part of the flesh on his legs and hands had also started peeling off. There was also a foul smell coming from his bedroom.
Surprisingly, his wife Virginia Wanjiru, has been living in the house and remained adamant that his husband died on Wednesday night.
Although Njeru is known to have been ailing from arthritis, interviewed neighbours claimed his wife has been beating him up and at times denying him food.
According to Free Area Chief Stephen Kihara, the elderly man might have died on Monday.
“I received information about his death today but I believed he died on Monday and the wife did not report,” Kihara said.
He said the condition of the body by the time the report was made ruled out the possibility of him having died the night before.
The chief said the father of two, had wedded 51 years ago at PCEA Lanet Parish.
“I can confirm that the two have been having frequent domestic quarrels but cannot authoritatively claim it is the cause of his death,” he said.
Police arrived at the scene and took the body to Nakuru county mortuary awaiting postmortem.