Police in Kenya say they'll charge one of their own officers with murdering his wife, in a case seen as highlighting the general level of violence against women in the country.

The policeman, Nthinwa Munyao, is accused of beating his wife so savagely that she suffered severe brain damage and was left partially paralysed.

She died on Friday, six months after the incident.

Her husband was suspended from duty a month ago, following pressure from women's and civil rights organisations.

The BBC East Africa correspondent says police have often failed to intervene in such cases because domestic violence is seen as a private matter in Kenya.