Police in Mbeere South Constituency, Embu County, are investigating the deaths of a 35-year-old man and his 24-year-old lover whose bodies were found on Wednesday afternoon in a muguka farm in Wikaze village, Gachuriri Sub-location.
The man was found dangling from a tree, while the body of the woman was discovered lying beneath a mango tree in a suspected case of murder-suicide.
The bodies were discovered by a farmworker who was spraying the farm before alerting the owner, who subsequently informed the police.
Residents said the two were in a romantic relationship and were known to openly display their affection.
They were reportedly seen together at a nearby shopping centre on Tuesday evening before the strange turn of events and appeared to be on good terms.
The man is also said to have borrowed a phone from a friend and recorded a video in which he claimed that his parents did not love him and opposed his relationship with the woman.
He reportedly suggested that his days on earth could be numbered.
Residents allege that the man strangled the woman before taking his own life by hanging.
However, police are yet to confirm the circumstances surrounding the two deaths.
The man’s uncle described him as a hot-tempered person, saying he had left his wife and two children before starting a relationship with the 24-year-old woman.
He said the family had been urging him to return home and take responsibility for his children, dismissing claims that the man was hated by his family.
Police have moved the bodies to the mortuary at Embu Level Five Hospital, where postmortems are expected to be conducted as investigations continue.
By Samuel Waititu
