A 17-year-old Form three student is being sought by police in Mwea, Kirinyaga County on suspicion that he was involved in the death of his 12-year-old cousin.
The girl, who was a Grade Seven pupil, died under unclear circumstances at her home in Kagio town.
The victim's mother said she left her daughter doing homework with her cousin and went to the market in the company of her husband and their househelp.
The househelp returned home earlier than her employees and found the 12-year-old girl lying in a pool of blood while the cousin was nowhere to be found.
The parents were immediately alerted and they rushed home. Upon arrival, they took their daughter to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
The body was moved to Kibugi Funeral Home awaiting post-mortem.
Kirinyaga Police Commander Andrew Naibei said the victim's body had visible injuries.
He noted that police had already launched a manhunt for the 17-year-old boy suspected of having a hand in the girl's death.
"She had visible injuries on her body. We are searching for the suspect and we will bring him in," Naibei said.
Gang rape case
Elsewhere, police were on Friday, April 12, 2024, allowed to hold the seven Bomet gang rape suspects for 14 days before they take a plea in court.
The court gave the directives following an application filed by state counsel Erick Waweru when the suspects were arraigned on Friday.
The prosecution applied for 21 days for suspects to be held in police custody but the magistrate allowed only 14 days for the investigations to be conducted by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the accused persons to be formally charged in court.
The suspects' lawyer had applied for their release on bond saying there was no complainant, no charge facing them and the viral video that led to their arrests had not been tendered as evidence in the case.
The defence lawyer further argued that the suspects' arraignment was premature.
The suspects are namely; Anderson Kipkoech Sigei, Carlos Kipkorir Sigei, Erican Kipkoech Korir, Enock Cheruiyot Koech, Enock Korir Kiprono, Wesley Kipkurgat Sigei and Weldon Kibet Sigei.
Police in Bomet County arrested the seven suspects after a gang rape video that was widely shared online sparked a public uproar.
The suspects were flushed out of their hideouts in the Olbutyo area in the Chepalungu sub-county.
