The Kenyan community in Australia is mourning the tragic death of a 36-year-old Kenyan man, Francis Muteru Githinji, who was stabbed to death by a fellow Kenyan during a heated confrontation in Melbourne on December 22.
According to reports, Muteru got into a verbal altercation with another Kenyan man, believed to be in his early 30s, shortly after they arrived at a residential area in Melbourne’s south-east.
What started as a disagreement quickly escalated, with witnesses saying the two argued loudly in Kiswahili, drawing attention from nearby residents.
During the exchange, one of the men was heard shouting:
“Wewe niambie ukweli, mbona unanidharau?”
“Tell me the truth, why are you disrespecting me?”
The other responded angrily:
“Usiniongeleshe vibaya, unajua mimi ni nani?”
“Don’t talk to me like that, do you know who I am?”
Moments later, the argument turned physical.
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Police say the confrontation escalated into a violent struggle, during which Muteru was stabbed. He collapsed at the scene as shocked bystanders screamed for help.
Emergency services rushed him to hospital by air ambulance, but despite efforts by doctors, he succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators have confirmed that CCTV footage captured parts of the altercation and is now a key part of the ongoing investigation. The suspect, also a Kenyan national, was arrested and is currently assisting police. His exact age and identity have not yet been formally released by authorities.
The killing has sent shockwaves through the Kenyan diaspora, with many expressing disbelief that a disagreement between compatriots could end in such a brutal and irreversible loss.
Friends describe Muteru as a hard-working, soft-spoken man who had moved to Australia in search of better opportunities for himself and his family. Back home in Kenya, relatives are devastated and have begun preparations to repatriate his body.
Community leaders have urged Kenyans living abroad to embrace dialogue and restraint, warning that unresolved anger and pride can easily turn deadly.
As investigations continue, the tragic death of Francis Muteru Githinji stands as a painful reminder that conflict carried from home can still destroy lives abroad, and that a moment of rage can cost everything.
