Elvis Opiyo, a married man with two children who reportedly works as an NIS officer, has been arrested after an attack that left a young gospel singer fighting for her life.
The victim, Mary Clare, is a member of Redemption Ministers, an SDA choir.
Clare and Elvis had a relationship that lasted about eight years while Elvis was posted in Isiolo and his wife and children remained at home.
Clare’s parents knew about the relationship, and during the years Elvis supported her through school paying fees from Form Four through university and helped her family with money. He also provided daily upkeep and other support.
Sources say Elvis became deeply involved in Clare’s life and was seen by some as a major benefactor. Meanwhile, Elvis’s wife and children suffered quietly.
Reports claim Clare at times insulted the family, boasting about Elvis’s feelings for her and acting as if she were his second wife.
This caused pain and humiliation for the wife, who eventually grew tired of the ongoing disrespect.
Clare completed her studies and graduated last year. After graduating, she reportedly told Elvis she had found another partner and would not be a second wife.
The rejection is said to have angered Elvis. He tried to persuade her to change her mind, even speaking to her parents, but Clare stood by her decision.
Two months before the attack, the pressure and emotional strain pushed Elvis to attempt suicide, but he survived.
According to reports, he later decided to take revenge on Clare.
Investigators allege he hired a man to throw sulphuric acid on her face. The attack happened on Ngong Road in Nairobi and was witnessed by members of the public.
After the attack, Clare was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital with severe burns and is in critical condition.
Her injuries are serious and may leave long-term scars. A friend who tried to help her also sustained injuries while assisting at the scene.