Former police officer accused of killing wife, sexually assaulting nanny in Pipeline estate

She had only been working as a nanny for three weeks. Just when she was about to be paid, tragedy struck. She became the helpless witness to the horrific murder of her employer, a brutal act committed by the very man who was supposed to protect the family, a former police officer.

Mary Aketch (not her real name) was barely 19 when her life took a devastating turn. Today, she is not only a key witness in a murder trial but also a victim of gender-based violence and a rape survivor.

On the night of  August 19 2025, in Nairobi’s Pipeline estate, Aketch’s hopes for a better life collapsed. That was the night she watched Cypriano Magoye, a former police officer, hack his wife, Susan Nabwire, to death. Nabwire, a businesswoman, operated an M-Pesa shop at the Machakos Country Bus terminus.

Magoye, now facing charges of murder and rape, remains in custody pending plea-taking before Makadara’s Principal Judge James Wakiaga.

According to Aketch’s testimony, Magoye arrived home around 11pm. His wife had stepped out to buy food. He seized all the household mobile phones, including those of Aketch and Nabwire, and also took the keys to the business premises. When Nabwire returned, he confronted her on the stairs, pushing her so forcefully she fell.

Nabwire screamed, prompting Aketch to rush out. But the neighbours, long accustomed to the couple’s noisy quarrels, ignored the cries.

Night of hell

The trio returned indoors, and Aketch prepared dinner. When the food was served, Magoye refused to eat, then later complained about being excluded. A second plate was given to him, but he deliberately poured it onto the floor. This triggered another argument, with his wife asking him why he was behaving like that. It was then that Nabwire realised her phone and keys were missing.

The push and pull arguments dragged on through the night and a furious Magoye demanded Sh2000 from her phone in vain. Nabwire remained adamant until 2am in the morning when she gave in and agreed to send him the money if he handed over her phone

But he demanded her PIN instead, insisting he would conduct the transaction himself. This however, did not go well with Nabwire who demanded for her phone and keys since she wanted to leave the house very early for business. 

A fight broke out between the two and Aketch was advised not to raise alarm for what she was about to witness. She was told to put the one-year-old baby to sleep as the accused dashed to the bathroom to get a short axe. 

Sensing imminent danger, Nabwire tried desperately to defend herself. But she was overpowered. Her pleas for mercy were ignored. In a frenzy, Magoye hacked at her neck with the axe. Blow after blow fell as Aketch, paralysed with fear, watched in horror.

Blood splattered on the wall, and on the floor. A seemingly determined Magoye used a kitchen knife and vowed that he was killing her while she watched him. 

He sunk the sharp knife on her eyes, as if he wanted to gouge them out. He then took a rope and used it to strangle her to make sure that that she breathed her last. When Nabwire died, Magoye took a duster and cleaned the blood on the floor, cut her on the forehead before covering the body with a bedsheet and moved it near the bed. 

Turn on the witness

Magoye then turned his rage on Aketch, threatening to kill her with the axe unless she submitted. He raped her, then told her he would withdraw money from the deceased’s M-Pesa shop.

Before leaving, he warned her not to scream. He locked her inside with the corpse and the baby, leaving with the keys but placing a jerrican of water by the door.

The child, astonishingly, remained asleep throughout, oblivious to the horror that had unfolded.

Terrified and unsure of his whereabouts, Aketch stood by the door for hours, staring at her employer’s body and praying for rescue. Around 5am, she heard a neighbour stirring. Through the crack in the door, she whispered for help.

Police were called, alongside Nabwire’s sister, who confirmed that the couple’s domestic troubles had escalated in recent weeks. Detectives from Embakasi Sub-county secured the scene, rescued Aketch and the baby, and escorted the traumatised girl to hospital for post-rape care.