A police officer has been arrested for the murder of his wife, who died six months after she was brutally attacked.

Betty Kavata died on Christmas Day, her 28th birthday. She was first admitted to a Nairobi hospital six months ago partially paralysed and with severe brain damage.

The case has caused outrage amongst women's groups and civil rights activists, who have accused the police of not acting quickly enough.

Human rights groups in Kenya complain that violence against women in the country is not taken seriously.

Mrs Kavata was savagely beaten, allegedly by her policeman husband, Nthinwa Munyao. At the time, police investigators said they were unable to take legal action against the husband because they had to wait for Mrs Kavata to make a statement.

This she was unable to do because she had lost the power of speech. It was not until one month ago, after immense pressure from women's organisations and civil rights groups, that Mr Munyao was suspended from duty.

Following Mrs Kavata's death, the police announced that her husband had been arrested and that he would be charged with murder.

The case of Mrs Kavata is not an isolated one. Another police officer, who allegedly doused his girlfriend with paraffin and set her alight last October, was arrested on charges of murder.

The two cases have highlighted the general level of violence against women in Kenya and in particular, the attitude of the police who often fail to intervene because they say domestic violence is a private matter.