When 20-year-old Diana Cherono spoke with her mother on the Easter weekend, there was nothing to indicate that she was in danger.
But five days later, unknown to her parents, the body of the Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology (RVIST) certificate in agricultural extension student, was found floating in a sewer near Meru University.
The family was waiting for her to join them after the Easter holiday at their home in Chepkirib village, Bomet Central constituency, Bomet county, but she did not turn up and her phone was switched off a few days later, sending alarm bells.
Her parents – Richard and Peris Cheruiyot – who are peasant farmers, became worried about her safety when she repeatedly failed to pick her calls, and the phone was later switched off.
“The last time we spoke with Diana was on Good Friday (April 3, 2026) when she informed me that she would be coming home the following week as she expected to join Tirgaga Tea Factory (managed by the Kenya Tea Development Agency) for an industrial attachment” Peris told journalists at her home.
Peris said her daughter was jovial when she spoke with her on the phone and did not indicate she was in any sort of trouble.
The family was thrown into mourning when the local chief knocked on their door on April 29, where he informed them that the body of their beloved first-born child had been found floating in a sewer near Meru University.
Peris Cheruiyot (centre), the mother of Diana Cherono, at their home in Chepkerib village, Bomet County on May 2, 2026.
Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation Media Group
“The news that our daughter lay dead, more than 450 kilometres away was devastating. It is still unbelievable that someone could take the life of an innocent soul, a child we sacrificed a lot to educate” Mr Cheruiyot, the father, said on phone.
“I have travelled to Meru to identify the body. The police have said that there is a likelihood for a postmortem to be conducted on Monday,” Mr Cheruiyot said.
A detective in Meru said the body was found floating on April 7 in a sewer, and was taken to Meru County Referral Hospital mortuary for preservation.
He said the body has been identified and a postmortem is set to be conducted in what is expected to shed more light on the circumstances of her death. No suspect has been arrested so far in connection with the incident.
Diana Cherono, the Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology student, who was found murdered in Meru and body dumped in a sewer.
Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation Media Group
The family has been thrown into mourning as a result of the news, with the villagers expressing shock at the turn of events.
“We are appealing to the government agencies to speed up investigation into the incident and arrest those who killed her and dumped the body in a sewer” Esther Yator, the grandmother to the deceased said.
Ms Yator said due to the humble background, the family had sacrificed a lot to educate their daughter whom they looked up to.
Mr Richard Bii, a grandfather to the deceased, said the family was wondering how she ended up in Meru when her parents were expecting her at home after sitting for her last paper in college.
“Initially, when she switched off her phone, we thought a man had eloped with her and that she would resurface. But to imagine that all that time, she lay dead hundreds of kilometres away is shocking,” Mr Bii said.
Mr Kiplangat Koech, a teacher and resident, urged the government to track Diana's movement from RVIST college in Nakuru to Meru where her body was retrieved from a sewer.
“There are several questions that begs for answers in this case – how did she travel to Meru? Was she invited by someone? Was she killed elsewhere and transported to Meru? What were her killers after? Whom did she offend?” Mr Koech wondered.
Family members said the girl was known to be humble, jovial, disciplined and a member of a youth group in the local church.
