Residents of Maina village in the outskirts of Nyahururu town of Laikipia County, Sunday woke up to shock after a granny was found murdered in her house.
Margaret Wanjeri 70, who was selling firewood in the area and lived alone was reportedly raped and strangled to death before the assailant escaped.
According to Purity Wangari, a neighbour, they became suspicious after the main door to the deceased’s house remained closed for a long time and on checking they found her body sprawled on the floor of her house.
. Photo by Jesse Mwitwa
“We decided to check on her after the door remained closed more than usual and discovered the body sprawled on the floor. We later noticed that there was a big patch of a hole behind her three-roomed timber house,” said Wangari.
The area chief Joseph Muraya said that there were indications that the woman had been sexually abused before she was killed.
“From the look of things, the woman was sexually abused before she was murdered either by strangling or by a blow to the head,” he said.
Nyahururu Assistant County Commissioner Julia Irungu said detectives had launched a probe to unearth what happened.
She called on the public to volunteer any information to the police so that those responsible can be arrested.
“The body was collected and taken to Nyahururu County referral hospital mortuary as detectives continue with investigations,” she added.
Following the occurrence, leaders in the area led by nominated MCA Irene Wacuka condemned the criminal act and called on police to ensure that the culprits are arrested with immediate effect.
Wacuka demanded for an overhaul of the local police establishment accusing them of sleeping on their job.
“Police must tell us what is happening in the area because we can’t continue to lose innocent people each and every day. This is the third death to be reported in a span of two months and we will not allow this to continue happening,” she added.
By Njoki Murua
