Residents of Tetu sub-county, Nyeri county were left in shock after the body of a high school teacher who went missing for a week was found decomposing in a homemade coffin at his rented house at Ihururu shopping centre.
Confirming the incident, area police boss Philip Mwania said the lifeless body of 46-year-old Joseph Gathogo a teacher at Muhoya secondary school was discovered after relatives of the deceased realised he had been missing.
"The relatives visited his house accompanied by police. Upon arrival at his house, they were met with a foul smell emanating behind the closed door. When they broke the door they were astonished that their kin was dead inside his homemade coffin," Mwania added.
He noted that the relatives told police officers that Gathogo who appeared disturbed had been visiting their home at Ngangarithi village but all of a sudden he had stopped, prompting the search.
"His relatives told us that prior to his death he had his own issues but they never thought he would take his own life. We are investigating to establish more details " Mwania said.
Police believe that the teacher committed suicide by placing himself inside the coffin before ingesting an unknown kind of poison.
Hundreds of curious residents who milled the area to catch a glimpse of the teacher believe that he prepared the coffin himself.
His body was moved to Nyeri County Referral morgue as investigations commences.
