Gitwanba village in Kiambu County is reeling from shock and grief after a young man allegedly stabbed his cousin to death following an argument during a football match.

Police say the suspect, James Mbugua, is accused of fatally stabbing Stephen Njoroge during a heated exchange while they watched the English Premier League clash between Manchester United and Chelsea.

Mbugua reportedly fled the scene immediately after the attack, prompting an active police manhunt.

Family members describe the tragedy as unimaginable. The cousins were known to be close and had no history of conflict.

“They were first cousins, watching football together. This has completely broken our hearts; we never expected something like this to happen,” their uncle said, visibly shaken.

Another relative painted Mbugua as a peace-loving, hardworking man and suggested that alcohol may have influenced the deadly outburst.

“Alcohol can be dangerous. It can make someone act in ways they would never consider while sober,” she lamented.

Authorities have opened a murder investigation as the community struggles to comprehend how a friendly evening of football could end in such senseless violence.

Police are appealing to anyone with information on Mbugua’s whereabouts to come forward.