The middle-aged woman who was shot dead by a police officer in Kanyonyoo, Kitui County, was married and had left her children and husband at home under the pretext of going to work in Kitengela.
The family of the deceased—Joy Mutisya, is now struggling to come to terms with the tragedy as they seek answers over the events that led to the fatal shooting of their daughter and her friend, Jane Ndanu.
She was married to James Mutisya, and together they had two children, of whom one is in Form Three and the other in Grade Six.
Her in laws told Journalists that Joy, whom they described as a caring wife and mother, had left their Machakos home claiming she was heading to Kitengela in search of work.
Unknown to them, she had instead travelled to Kanyonyoo to meet the suspected boyfriend.
Sources revealed that the armed officer later confronted Joy at her friend Jane Ndanu’s house, where she had sought refuge.“Amepigwa risasi mingi sana mpaka hatuelewi… alikuwa anafunzwa namna gani kama anaweza fyatua risasi na auwe wasichana wawili.” Joy’s father-in-law, Jonathan Waema added.
The frustrated home, encompassing Joy’s husband and family, is struggling to come to terms with the heartbreaking circumstances that led her to Kitui and ultimately to her death.The weight of the tragedy and the burden now left behind is immense for the young family.
Meanwhile, an autopsy is expected on Thursday as the two families of Joy and Jane prepare burials for their loved ones, hopeful that the suspect will be arrested soon.

