A first-year female student at Karatina University was brutally stabbed and killed by her alleged boyfriend on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2025.
The grisly murder, suspected to be linked to a love triangle gone wrong, has left the university community and the small town of Karatina in a state of disbelief.
The victim, Bonita Ngatha Kariuki, a 21-year-old student from Embu County, was pursuing a Bachelor of Education degree.
She was reportedly attacked in the male student hostel on the university campus, where she had spent the day with her suspected boyfriend, 25-year-old Kelvin Nyagah, also a first-year student at the institution.
The attack occurred at around 3 PM on Friday afternoon, just hours after the pair had reportedly enjoyed time together.
The brutal nature of the crime sent shockwaves through the university, with many students and faculty members struggling to comprehend the horrific incident.
“This is a very sad and tragic event,” said a university spokesperson. “We are still trying to process this, and our thoughts are with the family and friends of Bonita.”
Police suspect that the crime may be linked to a complicated love affair, with investigators considering the possibility of jealousy or personal conflict playing a role in the murder.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, but authorities are working to establish a clearer picture of the events leading up to the crime.
Mathira East Police Commander, Samson Leweri, confirmed that two suspects, including Nyagah, are currently being questioned in connection to the murder.
The main suspect, Nyagah, fled the scene immediately after the killing and is believed to be on the run.
“We have two suspects in custody, and we are doing everything we can to apprehend the main suspect. The investigation is ongoing,” Leweri said.
Investigators say the victim was last seen entering the male hostel with Nyagah earlier in the day.
Witnesses confirmed that the couple appeared to be spending time together, unaware of the tragic events that would unfold just hours later.
Bonita’s parents, who had been desperately trying to reach their daughter all day, were devastated to learn of the heartbreaking news.
The grieving parents spent much of Saturday at Karatina Police Station in Mathira, struggling to come to terms with the brutal loss of their daughter.
“We can’t believe this is happening to our child. She was so full of life and had a bright future ahead of her,” said her mother through tears. “This is every parent’s worst nightmare.”
The victim’s body was taken to Karatina Level Five Hospital morgue for a post-mortem examination, as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the murder.
As the investigation unfolds, the university and surrounding community are left grappling with the shock of this Valentine’s Day tragedy, which has cast a dark shadow over what is typically seen as a day of love and celebration.
Students and staff alike are now left to mourn the loss of a young woman whose life was taken too soon, under the most horrificof circumstances.
