Jacqueline Wangui Gichuru, 19, went missing on October 25, 2024 and her body later found in Mathioya River.
The body of a 19-year-old student at Kamacharia Girls High School who went missing on October 25, 2024 has been found in Mathioya River.
Mathioya police boss Paul Karobia told Nation.Africa that the schoolgirl, Jacqueline Wangui, had been released from school on grounds of sickness but went missing later in the night.
According to Mr Karobia, the student was picked from school by her grandmother after the school administration contacted the family over her undisclosed sickness.
"The report that we have is that after her grandmother collected the girl, they proceeded to a hospital and then went to their home in Kairo village," Mr Karobia said.
The student is reported to have retired to bed around 8pm later that day.
"On the morning of October 26, 2024 the grandmother reported that she became apprehensive when her grandchild took longer than usual to wake up for breakfast. Upon checking in her bedroom, the found the schoolgirl missiing," the police boss said.
The search that ensued ended tragically when farmers discovered the student’s body floating in the river, a short distance from her grandmother's home.
Mr Karobia said so far police have no clue about what happened to the girl.
"It is only after a postmortem examination has been carried on the body that we shall understand what happened," he said.
The deceased student has been described by her family as humble, God fearing and obedient.
“We have accepted the will of God but investigators should help us understand what happened to her. We will be patient," family spokesperson Millicent Gichuru said.
Ms Gichuru said the family will now proceed with burial arrangements while waiting for the police to come up with an official report on the death of their kin.
At the same time, Murang'a County Director of Education Anne Kiilu said the government is working closely with the administration of the school the deceased attended to establish what necessitated the call for the student to be picked from school prior to her death.
"We are in contact with the school and the family of the deceased. We are very concerned and sorry. We hope the investigating agencies will release a final report that will explain exactly what happened," Ms Kiilu said.
Murang'a County Government Youth Affairs Chief Executive Manoah Gachucha, who hails from Mathioya, termed the student’s death as "tragically sad."
He urged investigators to disclose to apprehensive education stakeholders the nature of the schoolgirl’s sickness, the hospital she was taken to and what she was treated for.
"It is sad that we can lose such a young girl like that. It is an incredulous tale of a girl leaving school, going to hospital, going home, then ending up dead in a river. There is need for credible and official explanation," he said.
