Kenyan in US charged with attempt to kill

By ANTONY KARANJA in DALLAS, TEXASPosted Thursday, January 27 2011 at 21:00

A Kenyan has been charged with attempted murder in a US court.

Mr Gideon K. Maiyo, 29, is accused of hitting Ms Elizabeth Cheruto Kogo, also 29, on the head with a hammer in Wichita, Kansas, last weekend.

Ms Kogo remains in a critical condition at the Wesley Medical Center, where she was taken.

According to Ms Kogo’s next of kin, Mr John Paul Limo, she is responding well to treatment.

Severe head injuries

A neighbour called police after hearing a disturbance from the couples’ apartment. When the police arrived, they found Ms Kogo with severe head injuries.

Mr Maiyo had fled the scene by the time the police arrived and was arrested moments later after his car crashed.

A preliminary hearing is set for February 9. US District Judge Warren Wilbert set Mr Maiyo’s bond at $100,000 (Sh8 million).

Mr Maiyo had a pending misdemeanour battery case in which Ms Kogo was the alleged victim.

Early this month, another Kenyan man was handed 76 years after he pleaded guilty to killing his wife and two children in Minnesota. (Read: Kenyan man jailed for 76 years for US murders)