Detectives have cracked a four-month case involving three separate murders of elderly residents in Nakuru, Rongai sub-County, uncovering a chilling "murder-for-hire" plot rooted in land disputes.
The arrest of three suspects linked with the deaths is a welcome breakthrough for a community that has lived in fear since the targeted killings began last November.
The discovery was made after the couple, who lived alone, failed to attend church. Wanjiku’s body was found in the living room, while Kihiti’s was found in the bedroom.
David Mbugua holds the portrait of his 90-year-old father Joseph Kihiti in Nakuru on November 5, 2025. Mr Kihiti, a pastor, and his wife, were found brutally murdered in their house in Nakuru.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation
Barely two weeks later, 65-year-old Margaret Wambui, a member of the PCEA Women’s Guild, was found murdered in her home. She had sustained visible, severe head injuries.
The string of killings sparked widespread outrage, with residents demanding swift action from the police against what they described as a wave of "targeted murders" of the elderly.
On Monday, Nakuru County Criminal Investigations Officer Samuel Ngeiywo announced that months of forensic work had led to the apprehension of Richard Wanjala, Michael Kipsang Maritim, and Collins Wekesa Wanyonyi.
Mr Ngeiywo stated that the first suspect was arrested on March 27. Upon interrogation, he led detectives to the other two suspects, who were apprehended on March 30 within Rongai. The suspects alleged that the killings were motivated by a land dispute. They further revealed they had been hired by an individual who remains at large.
“We do not want to reveal too much at this stage, as we are still pursuing other suspects,” Ngeiywo said. “The three in custody have identified the individual who hired them, and that person has since gone into hiding.”
The suspects appeared before the Molo Law Courts on March 30. Detectives were granted a 30-day window to finalize the case, and the trio is scheduled to return to court on April 27.
Post-mortem examinations confirmed the violent nature of the crimes. The elderly couple died from blunt force trauma to the head; Mr. Kihiti also suffered fractures to his shoulder and hands, indicating a desperate struggle.
Similarly, the autopsy for Wambui revealed fatal head injuries, a shattered skull, and a right arm broken in three places—evidence that she had fought to defend herself during the attack.
