A seemingly ordinary day spiralled into tragedy in Juja after Rose Muthoni was fatally stabbed in her home, allegedly by her husband. Her nanny, known only as Tracy, has come forward with a harrowing account of the events that led up to the deadly attack.
According to Tracy, the day began without obvious warning. Her employer’s husband came home unusually early around 10:00 a.m., which in itself was out of character. He remained on calls for extended periods and eventually asked for the television remote to watch a film. The movie was violent. At one point, when a woman was killed in the film, the husband made a comment that people like that deserve to die.
These odd behaviours unsettled Tracy, but she says nothing indicated the catastrophe to come until later that night.
Rose Muthoni returned home around midnight after a long day in Nairobi. Still on the phone, she asked Tracy about the location of kitchen knives. When they could not find them in their usual places, Rose chose a knife from the oven, the one kept for cutting chicken.
Shortly afterwards, Tracy saw the husband emerge, still wearing the same clothes, holding a knife. He threw it to the ground silently when questioned. Rose picked it up and asked him why he was holding a knife so late and not speaking. He responded that he did not care.
Tracy says she went back to bed, but the atmosphere in the house escalated rapidly. She heard a piercing scream as Rose called for help, saying that they were killing her.
Rushing from her room, Tracy found Rose on the floor, stabbed in the chest. She described Rose fighting for her life, pleading for help, and asking for her child’s future. In one of her last moments she reportedly expressed that she wished to live for her child.
Tracy attempted to intervene. She says the husband almost stabbed her in the chest as she tried to pull him off Rose. She also alleged that he tried to throw their baby from the balcony, but she managed to grab the child and flee while screaming.
The family is in deep mourning, and the community is shocked by what is described as a household without previous signs of such extreme violence.
Authorities are investigating, with the husband now under suspicion in Rose Muthoni’s death. The case has raised questions about domestic violence, warning signs, and whether neighbours or other family members might have noticed disturbing behaviour.
It remains unclear whether the husband has made any statement or denial, if there were prior warning signs of abuse or instability in the relationship, and what support systems were available to Rose and the family.
This is an emotionally painful case, and investigations are ongoing. The testimony of Tracy raises serious questions about how sudden shifts in behaviour, even early warnings, may foreshadow much larger risks.
By Nairobi