A 36-year-old businesswoman, Nduta Wangai, has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly trying to run over her boyfriend's wife, Rebecca Ngumi, during a dispute over the man and their shared residence. The incident occurred on January 5, 2024, at Ridgeways estate in Starehe Sub-county, Nairobi.

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Apart from the attempted murder charge, Wangai also faces an additional count of malicious damage to property, accused of causing damage to Ngumi's property estimated at one million shillings. The damages include destruction to Ngumi’s gate, garage wall, and her Mercedes Benz vehicle.

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The confrontation unfolded when Ngumi, preparing for work, heard someone at her gate. Upon sending her house help to check, Wangai claimed she had come to speak to Ngumi's husband. Ngumi informed her husband, and as they approached the gate, a disagreement ensued, leading Wangai to drive her car into the gate.

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Run for her safety

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The complainant, fearing for her safety, began to run as the suspect reportedly drove straight at her. The suspect, identified as Ms. Wangai, is accused of spraying the complainant with a substance believed to be acid.

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Despite several attempts by Wangai to reverse and hit the complainant, she instead damaged Ngumi's car while the latter sought cover.

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Ngumi promptly called the police during the incident, leading to their swift response. The suspect allegedly threatened to kill the complainant and made repeated attempts to run her over before Ngumi found refuge between objects in her compound. However, Wangai fled upon learning that the police had been alerted.

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Detective Constable Erastus Matuanga of the Starehe DCI’s office, who had submitted an affidavit opposing bail for the suspect, did not produce it in court. In the affidavit, Matuanga mentioned an ongoing dispute over the house where Ms. Ngumi resides with her husband.

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“The accused (Ms Wangai) claims to have contributed to its purchase through the complainant’s (Ms Ngumi’s) husband and instead of seeking legal remedy to solve the matter, decided to use violent ways to claim the same and it is feared that once released on bond, she will pursue the claim through the same means which may even lead to murder”, Matuanga said in the affidavit.

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The detective mentioned that the investigation team has yet to obtain statements from crucial witnesses due to their work commitments.

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During her appearance before Senior Principal Magistrate Helen Okwani at the Makadara Law Courts, Ms. Wangai denied the charges and requested lenient bail and bond conditions. She, a mother of four children with the youngest being seven years old, was released on a one-million-shilling bond without the option of cash bail.

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The case is scheduled for mention on April 9, with the hearing set to commence on July 4. Notably, Ms. Ngumi's husband is listed as a witness in the case.

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