28/03/2025
Baringo:
The family of Mercy Chebaskwony Chirchir, a 23-year-old woman tragically murdered earlier this week, is grappling with immense grief. Her mother, Milcah Chirchir, shared her last conversation with Mercy, recalling how her daughter was full of life as she left home around 9 PM on Monday to visit her boyfriend, Michael Rono, at Tolmo, a nearby center. "She was happy, cracking jokes with me before she left," Milcah said, holding back tears.
Mercy had recently escaped an abusive marriage to Alex Kimeli Ng'elel, which lasted four years. Milcah revealed that Mercy had been repeatedly beaten, often seeking refuge back home. In November, after a violent incident where Ng'elel, intoxicated, nearly killed Mercy, she left with their two-year-old son and was warned never to return. She moved on and started a new life with Rono.
Sadly, Mercy was found dead outside Rono's house, with severe cuts to her head, face, and neck. Bloodstains on Rono’s door suggest she may have been attacked while trying to reach his home. Police, led by Koibatek Sub-County Police Commander Joel Chepkwony, are investigating, but the prime suspect, Ng'elel, remains at large.
Milcah, who is struggling financially after her husband's death in 2023, is seeking assistance to cover the post-mortem and burial costs. "We can barely afford food, let alone funeral expenses," she said. The family is calling for justice and support from the government and well-wishers during this painful time.
