A 20-year-old Kenyan woman, Mercy Momanyi, who was allegedly burned by her boyfriend, Sheldon Ombongi Okerosi, is speaking out about the incident that changed her life forever.
Ms Momanyi, from Mosocho, Kisii County, claimed that her boyfriend poured scalding hot water on her following a heated argument on August 23, 2023.
In the process, Mr. Okerosi’s mother, Ms Peninah Atemba, was also injured.
After the incident, Mr. Okerosi went missing and later informed some friends that he had returned to the United States.
In an interview with the Nairobi News on Monday, September 18, Ms Momanyi revealed that their relationship took a dark turn when she discovered suspicious messages on Mr. Okerosi’s phone, indicating he was involved with other women.
Confronted with her questions, he allegedly turned violent.
In a desperate attempt to keep the incident hidden, Sheldon locked Mercy in a room after physically assaulting her.
She convinced him to release her hours later, promising to forgive him.
However, the secret was eventually exposed when Mercy spoke to Sheldon’s mother, Ms Atemba, about the altercation.
Sheldon, fearing the truth would come out, overheard their conversation and confronted Mercy, accusing her of betraying him. In a fit of rage, he allegedly poured hot boiling water on her.
He then allegedly assaulted her further by slamming her head on the floor. Sheldon’s sisters intervened and Mercy was rescued from the ordeal.
During the assault, both Mercy and Ms Atemba were scalded with the hot water. They were rushed to Bosongo Hospital.
Two days later, Mercy, in several attempts, tried to reach out to her lover, but he was not responding.
Mercy’s sister, Brilliant Momanyi, reported the incident to the Mosocho Police Station, launching an official investigation.
The case was recorded under Occurrence Book (OB) number 9/27/8/2023.
Ms. Momanyi disclosed that Mr Okerosi had gone silent after the incident, leaving her to shoulder the burden of her hospital bills.
Friends and relatives, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the couple had met two years ago when Ms Momanyi was studying Human Resource Management at a tertiary institution in Nyeri County.
Initially, Mr Okerosi was known for his calm and humble demeanor, and former schoolmates expressed disbelief over his alleged actions.
One friend remarked, “He was calm and always silent; I can’t believe my former high schoolmate could do such a thing.”
A few months into their relationship, Mr Okerosi won a green card and relocated to the United States.
He persuaded Ms Momanyi to leave Nyeri and join him in a rented house in Syokimau, Nairobi County.
“He even promised that he would ensure that she joins a better learning institution and take a different course of her choice. He had promised to sponsor her education, but this never happened,” a close family member of Ms Momanyi told this reporter.
For two years, Mr Okerosi covered bills and paid for Ms Momanyi’s life expenses in Syokimau.
Ms Momanyi frequently shared videos on social media, showcasing the gifts and experiences provided by her boyfriend.
In one video from February 2022, she expressed gratitude for an iPhone 14 Promax, saying, “Thanks, baby, for the iPhone 14 Promax. I really appreciate it. Love you so much.”
Videos also captured their happy moments, from boat rides to outings at a popular hotel in Westlands, Nairobi County.
Ms Brilliant Momanyi, Ms Momanyi’s elder sister, revealed that they had been advised to withdraw the police report if they wanted the medical bills to be covered.
It was gathered that the suspect, Mr Okerosi, works as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in Minnesota.
His records indicate no substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property, according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
He is still missing but investigations into the assault are ongoing.
