“Kujeni Mchukue Maiti ya Dada Yenyu” This was the message Maxwell Otieno gave to the family of Endinal after killing her.

Endinal Nyainda was a 22-year-old girl who had just graduated from Kenyatta University.

She had joined the university in 2012 and graduated in 2016. Familia yake ilikuwa imepambana sana kumleta all the way from Migori to Kenyatta University. She depended on HELB money and loans, but her family’s sacrifices got her through.

Akiwa campus, she met Maxwell Otieno, who first lied to her that he was a KDF officer, and the two fell in love. But Endinal later found out that Maxwell was only a taxi driver who had no car but would hire vehicles. But that couldn’t break the heart of Endinal, who was deeply in love.

The two later moved in together. Everything was well for them. But due to persistent claims of infidelity, the once admirable relationship started to crumble.

And in 2015, Endinal moved out, akaanza kujikalisha, and told her boyfriend, “It’s over. I can’t do this anymore.” She also told him that she had another man.

Na hapo akafanya a very big mistake, ju kuna watu kwa mapenzi hata better uwaache tu wajipange. Ju the time you tell them you have someone, not everyone knows how to handle rejection instantly.

In 2016, she achieved something her family was incredibly proud of. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Population Health, Second Class Honours, Upper Division.

Familia ikajua hapa, our daughter has made it, and now she shall uplift them. But they didn’t know that time wasn’t on her side.

In July 2016, Maxwell called Endinal akamuambia, “Since it’s been a while since ukuje to my place, we try and talk things out, tuone if we can get back together.”

Endinal agreed, na hapo alifanya another big mistake, ju Maxwell had other plans for her.

After amefika kwa Maxwell, an argument followed, and what happened next would destroy her family forever.

Maxwell alichukua kisu na akamdunga dunga kama mbuzi hadi akamuua.

Na ya kustua, he slept in the same house.But at 2:48 a.m., Maxwell akapigia sister ya Endinal akamuambia, “Your sister is dead, kujeni mchukue mwili yake.”

Imagine being a sister and receiving such a call in the middle of the night.The sister went to the apartments, and indeed, she met the lifeless body of her sister.

Maxwell told her he killed her because he couldn’t accept she was leaving him and couldn’t stand the thought of her being with someone else.

Her body was taken to KU mortuary, the same university where she had recently completed her education.

Maxwell was arrested following Endinal’s murder and the case was taken up by the authorities.

Endinal’s story remains a painful reminder that not everyone knows how to handle rejection.

If someone tells you they no longer want to be with you, accept it. It may hurt. It may break your heart. You may feel angry, betrayed and lost, but don’t allow that pain to turn you into someone capable of destroying another person’s life.

Sometimes the hardest thing you can do is let someone go.