Maina Maranga reportedly slashed his wife with a panga in the morning hours and fell unconscious due to excessive bleeding.
The father of seven thinking that the wife was dead decided to hang himself using a rope at the home.
Locals jammed at the home after the 11am incident on Monday and managed to save the woman who sustained several injuries.
Area police boss Job Lesinikwa said the man decided to hang himself for fear of being launched by the locals.
A neigbour said the couple had been having a family dispute for a long time.
The couple has been operating in Ngare’ Ng’iro area in Kieni and also in Tetu area.
The wife is admitted at Nyeri Outspan Hospital in critical condition.
The body was removed to Nyeri Referral Hospital morgue.
-WAMBUGU KANYI