Villagers in Shahenzo, Kakamega county were shocked as they discovered lifeless body of a 59-year-old woman in her house on Tuesday, September 7.
Rosemary Manyonyi's body, which bore marks of strangulation, was found lying stark naked in her bed with signs of a possible rape case.
Neighbours say that they got suspicious when Rosemary, whom they claim is often an earlier riser, failed to wake up.
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“I had gone to ask her for my ksh50 debt that she owed me. She had bought cooking fat from my kiosk on credit. I knocked severally at her door to no response, prompting me to call other villagers for further inquiry,” Margaret Mulembe told K24 Digital.
After their concerted efforts to have her open the door proved futile, the villagers broke into the late Rosemary's house, meeting her lifeless body lying naked on her bed. Eyewitnesses reveal that, at the time of the discovery, blood was still oozing from her mouth.
Apart from raping and killing her, the unknown assailants are said to have made away with a cockerel, a sack of maize and other food items.
Locals have decried a spike in cases of rape and killings more so among old ladies.
“We were working with her in the local market of Eregi where she used to run a vegetable stall. This village is full of idle young men who roam around and abuse drugs. We are highly suspicious that they are behind the spiralling rape cases and insecurity,” Getray Ayera said.
Police officers have been blamed for dropping their guard despite the increasingly deteriorating state of security.
“Police in this locality do nothing as the youth idle around abuse drugs,” a concerned villager said.
Area chief, Wycliffe Sabatia confirmed the incident calling for calm among the villagers. Sabatia has assured the locals that investigations over the case have commenced and are in top gear.
The body has since been moved to Kakamega Referral Hospital mortuary.
