Estranged husband on the run as Kirinyaga woman killed, body dumped in sorghum farm
Shocked residents at Rukanga village in Kirinyaga county where Alice Wanjiku's body was found dumped in a sorghum farm on March 6, 2025.
What you need to know:
- The residents described Ms Kibugi as a humble person who related well with the locals and she didn't deserve to die so painfully.
- "We know her well, she was a good person and as residents, we have also been thrown into mourning," another resident, Mr Joseph Mwai said.
Police in Kirinyaga are pursuing a suspect who allegedly killed his lover and dumped her body on a sorghum farm.
Alice Wanjiku, 29, was hacked to death by her estranged husband on her way to work on March 5, 2025.
The suspect in the gruesome murder has since gone underground. According to the family, their daughter who is a hairdresser left home at Rukanga village at around 10am, but while on her way to the town where she works, she was ambushed and attacked with a sharp weapon.
Her head was then crushed with a huge rock and according to the family, it appears Wanjiku was trying to defend herself as her hands had deep cuts.
The assailant then tied a rope around Wanjiku's neck and dragged her to the sorghum farm in a bid to cover up the evidence and took off to an unknown destination.
A resident who had gone to the farm to answer the call of nature stumbled upon the badly mutilated body and raised an alarm, attracting scores of villagers who alerted the police who removed the body to Kibugi Funeral home for postmortem examination.
The family said their daughter separated from her husband in November last year and returned home.
"My daughter differed with her husband and came back home where she has been staying with us while taking care of her three children," said Mr Wanjohi Nguu, the woman’s father.
The family said the fatal attack took them by surprise and demanded that justice be done.
"We are still reeling in shock following the murder and we call upon the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to ensure that the prime suspect does not go unpunished," said Mr Nguu.
The family described Wanjiku as a hard-working woman who was determined to see her children access the best education.
"Our daughter took her work of braiding hair seriously and loved her children but unfortunately she has been eliminated by her lover," added Mr Nguu.
Before the fatal attack, Wanjiku had confided to her family that her former husband had threatened her after constantly accusing her of infidelity.
"The suspect kept on telling my daughter that he would chop off her head after they parted ways. The matter was reported to the local administrator and the suspect was summoned but he denied issuing death threats. Finally, he has made good his threats, leaving us as a family mourning," Ms Grace Njoki, the mother said amid sobs.
Ms Njoki vowed that she would fight until the suspect was pursued and brought to book.
After the beastly act, the prime suspect called the family and informed them that he had murdered their daughter.
"The suspect called from his hideout and told me he was responsible for the death of our daughter and switched off his phone. On receiving the information, I was so shocked and ran to the scene, only to find the lifeless body of Wanjiku lying in a pool of blood," said Mr Anthony Muturi, the brother of Ms Kibugi.
Mwea West Sub-County police boss Rashid Ali said the matter was being treated as murder, adding that the prime suspect is being pursued.
"The deceased's hands and face had deep cuts and the assailant could have used a sharp object to attack her," said Mr Ali.
He assured the family that the matter will be thoroughly investigated and the suspect apprehended for prosecution.
Immediately after the incident, angry residents rose in protest, baying for the blood of the suspect.
They combed the entire village and bushes in search of the suspect, saying he had behaved like a beast and he should face their wrath.
The residents described Ms Kibugi as a humble person who related well with the locals and she didn't deserve to die so painfully.
"We know her well, she was a good person and as residents, we have also been thrown into mourning," another resident, Mr Joseph Mwai said.