Police in Kiambu have launched investigations into the murder of a 52-year-old barmaid whose partially dressed body was found near Riverside Hotel Kiambu, where she worked.
Kiambu police boss Mohamed Badel said a report was made to the Kiambu police station on Monday morning after the body of a woman identified as Rosemary Mugure was found lying in a banana plantation near the hotel barely 12 hours after she completed her shift.
He said a preliminary investigation into the incident indicated that the deceased, who was found half naked, had traces of blood stains in her genitalia and might have been sexually assaulted before she met her death.
Badel hinted that detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) were piecing together evidence from the scene after looking at the CCTV footage to establish the last movement of the deceased after she left the hotel at around 10 p.m.
He said a background check on Mugure revealed that she hailed from Githunguri and had been working for years at the Riverside Hotel as a barmaid.
“We have checked all the CCTV footage, and we are at an advanced stage now. The DCI is working tirelessly to bring to book the criminal behind Rosemary Mugure’s death.” Badel said
William Wahome, who was the first at the scene and happened to be Rosemary’s friend as they had once worked together at the hotel, told KNA that he was passing by when he spotted the body.
“She was only wearing a top that covered the upper part of her body, and she was bleeding in her genitals. Her shoes and socks were near the body, and the jacket was at the roadside,” Wahome said.
The manager of Riverside Hotel, Samuel Kahato Waweru, told KNA that the deceased was on duty all day before she completed her shift late into the night and reportedly left for home as usual.
“I was the one who cleared Rosemary yesterday (Sunday) at 10 PM after she completed her shift. In the morning, I was called and told that Mugure had been found dead in that banana plantation near our hotel. This is so disheartening because Rosemary was a very dedicated, accountable, and jovial employee,” he regretted.
He said the staff at the hotel were shocked by the turn of events.
The body has now been moved to Kiambu Hospital Mortuary, awaiting postmortem.
By Elizabeth Wanja
