A Sunday evening football match ended in tragedy in Gituamba village, Waguthu location, Kiambu County, after a heated argument between two cousins turned violent, leaving one dead.
The incident occurred around 6:00 pm during a televised match between Manchester United and Chelsea.
Police said Stephen Mathia Njoroge, 35, was stabbed in the stomach by his cousin Mbugua following an altercation.
According to eyewitnesses, the two had been drinking illicit brew at a local joint earlier in the day when tensions escalated. Relatives said Mbugua had been behaving erratically since morning, even slashing his mother’s banana plants in a fit of rage.
The argument during the match quickly spiralled out of control, culminating in the fatal stabbing. Mathia was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
Family members, still in shock, described the tragedy as incomprehensible.
“He was jovial, peaceful, and got along with everyone. It’s unbelievable that this could happen between cousins,” said one relative.
Kiambu police have arrested the suspect, who is being held at Kiambu Police Station. Investigators are searching for the murder weapon, which has not yet been recovered.
Local residents have condemned the incident and called for tighter controls on illicit brews, which they believe are fuelling rising cases of violence in the area.
As the family begins burial preparations, police have urged communities to resolve disputes peacefully and to avoid excessive alcohol consumption, particularly during social gatherings.
