For three years, Susan Kanyuira appeared determined to rebuild her life quietly.
After walking away from a troubled marriage in 2023, the Nyeri mother chose a simple path—raise her two children, provide them with a good education and move forward without asking her former husband for child support or taking him to court.
But what began as an attempt to start over has now turned into a horrifying ordeal, after Susan was allegedly knocked down by her ex-husband following a confrontation at her home in Skuta, Nyeri County.
Susan and her former husband were blessed with two children, 11-year-old Ignatius and six-year-old Samantha. According to family accounts, she left the marriage after allegedly enduring violence and infidelity.
She took the children with her and settled in a modest rented house in Skuta.
Human rights activist Westkagu Jacque said Susan never demanded financial support from her former husband after their separation. She allegedly filed no court case and made no demands, choosing instead to focus on raising her children.
Despite the challenges, she reportedly managed to enrol the children in one of the best schools in the county.
Meanwhile, her former husband had started another family in Kangemi.
Then came last Wednesday—a day that began like an ordinary family reunion but would end in a nightmare.
The man reportedly contacted Susan and offered to collect the children from school as they broke for the August holidays. She agreed, but insisted that she be present.
The family collected the children together before stopping for a meal at Stutt Garden in Skuta. Afterwards, the man drove them to Susan’s home.
It was at the house that tensions allegedly began to rise.
The children’s father repeatedly asked Susan to allow him inside. She refused.
According to accounts shared by the family, Susan later agreed to accompany him into town so they could discuss matters concerning the welfare of their children.
But while they were away, a nationwide power blackout occurred, leaving Susan worried about the children at home.
She asked to return.
The man drove her back to the house.
When they arrived, Susan allowed him to open the gate so that he could turn his vehicle around. But once again, he allegedly demanded to be allowed into the house.
Susan refused.
What happened next has left her family devastated.
According to the accounts, the man allegedly attempted to drive away with some of Susan’s belongings, including her phone and power bank, which were still inside the vehicle.
Susan reportedly stood in front of the car in an attempt to retrieve her property.
She was allegedly struck by the vehicle.
Family accounts further claim that she was run over again, leaving her seriously injured.
The man then reportedly drove her to Nyeri Provincial General Hospital, where she received first aid before being referred to Karatina General Hospital for further treatment.
Police were allegedly given a different version of events.
The man reportedly told officers that he had found Susan after she had been struck by another vehicle and that he had only taken her to hospital out of goodwill.
However, investigators reportedly noted inconsistencies in the account.
When Susan eventually regained consciousness, she gave hospital staff the contact details of her sister.
Her sister arrived at the hospital expecting to find her injured sibling—and was confronted with another painful discovery.
The children were missing.
According to family members, Ignatius and Samantha had refused to leave their mother’s side. They allege that the children were nevertheless removed from the scene.
Following Susan’s statement, police reportedly traced the man to his home, where the two children were found.
They were subsequently reunited with their mother before being placed in safe care to receive psychosocial support as investigations continued.
The incident was recorded under OB No. 51/30/7/2026.
The former husband was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and later appeared in court on July 30, 2026, where he was granted a cash bail of KSh100,000.
For Susan, the ordeal is far from over.
The woman who reportedly spent three years asking her former husband for nothing now faces a difficult journey of physical and emotional recovery.
Her family is seeking justice as the relevant authorities continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack.
What was supposed to be a day of family reunion and the beginning of the children’s August holiday instead ended with a mother in hospital, two frightened children in protective care, and a family demanding answers.
For Susan, the quiet life she fought to build after leaving her troubled marriage has been shattered—and her loved ones are now hoping that justice will help her begin rebuilding it once again.
