Vegetables including carrots, some potatoes and two loaves of bread are some of the items that police recovered from Theta River Wamuguthoko village - Gatundu South, Kiambu County where the body of Wanjiku Karanja was discovered earlier today.
The middle-aged woman is suspected to have been stabbed severally in her chest and limbs while going home from Gatundu town where she has been working.
It is believed that Wanjiku was heading home on Sunday night at around 9:30 pm using a motorbike when the incident happened.
According to Kariuki Kibathi, the village elder, Wanjiku’s body was discovered by a villager who had gone to the banks of the river to look for cow leaves when he reported to other locals who later informed the police.
Her body was dumped inside the river surrounded by thickets, trees and a coffee factory with indicators showing that the killers may have struggled to terminate her life.
A knife was extracted from Wanjiku’s limbs which has sent more fear among locals who now demand action by security officers in the area.
Kibathi said that while the village, notoriously known for the manufacture, sale and consumption of illicit brews and recently bhang has been peaceful for some time, cases of insecurity had reemerged making locals fear for their lives.
The elderly man said that the lack of a police post in the area should be blamed for heightened insecurity in the village.
Speaking after Wanjiku’s body was picked by police and scene of crime officers, Kibathi urged the government to consider fast-tracking the establishment of a police post in the area to guarantee them security.
“We are saddened that this incident happened. We have been enjoying a lot of peace here since we jointly, with local administrators resolved to fight outlawed substances. The murder of Wanjiku has rebirthed cases of insecurity and most disturbing is that the killers had zero mercy on her,” Kibathi stated.
His sentiments were echoed by Ruth Njeri, the grandmother to Wanjiku who complained that the lack of regular police patrols in the area has doubled their fears.
Distraught Njeri said that going out at night will now be impossible for many locals following the incident.
“The government must act. We cannot continue like this. It’s very unfortunate that Wanjiku, who was coming home to check on one of her sick children, had to die. We suspect the incident happened between Kimunyu and Wamuguthuko village as her employer had called her before her phone went off,” the grandmother noted.
