Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Nyandarua have intensified investigations into the gruesome murder of a 60-year-old woman whose body was found dumped in a bush hours after she went missing.
They have arrested the woman’s 34-year-old son— a former police officer— as the prime suspect in the killing. The suspect has also been linked to the disappearance of his eight-year-old son with his estranged wife.
Parts of the late Millicent Wahura's dismembered body were discovered in a bush at Rumathe village in Kipipiri Constituency, more than 20 kilometres from her home in Mwireri Village, Ol Kalou Constituency.
According to a police report, the mutilated body was found along the Kipipiri–Malewa road.
“The elderly woman's badly mutilated and decomposing body as found inside a gunny bag, with the head missing. Her upper and lower limbs had also been chopped off. The body was discovered by passersby,” said Nyandarua Central Police boss Commander Sammy Kamau.
Following investigations, police confirmed that the remains belonged to Ms Wahura. Detectives believe she was killed and dismembered in her house before the body was packed in a sack and dumped by the roadside. The body parts were recovered on November 14.
Ms Joyce Kariuki, the assistant chief of Kimathi Sub-location, where the remains were found, described the scene as horrifying.
Millicent Wahura whose dismembered body was discovered in a bush in Rumathe village, Kipipiri Constituency.
Photo credit: Courtesy
“I have never seen anything like it. What struck me most was that the killer seemed to have enough time and courage to slaughter a human being, pack the body in a sack and carry it for kilometres to dump it. It appeared to be the body of an elderly woman,” she said.
She added that despite intensive searches through nearby bushes and farms, no other body parts were recovered.
“The body was found around 1pm. Police and members of the public searched until evening but did not find the missing parts,” she said.
Relatives told police that the suspect disappeared on the same day his mother went missing. Family members said he frequently quarrelled with his mother over inheritance, often demanding that his late father’s pension be channelled through his personal bank or mobile account.
“He had picked a fight with his mother earlier that day, demanding access to his late father’s pension. He never helped his mother or any family member during his time in the police service. He has always been violent,” said an aunt.
She added that the suspect’s father, also a police officer, died in 2021.
Ms Grace Kanini, the suspect’s estranged wife, said they divorced in 2022. Their son — a Grade Two pupil — remained under his grandmother’s care.
“His mother was a good woman. She promised to take care of him as we arranged how I could eventually get him back.,” Ms Kanini said.
The family is now deeply worried about the child’s whereabouts, as the suspect left home with him on the same night his mother disappeared.
Mr Kamau said the suspect was traced and arrested in Ndumberi, Kiambu County.
“He was alone during the arrest. We expect him to reveal the whereabouts of his son once he arrives at the Ol Kalou Police Station. He is our prime suspect. He was dismissed from the National Police Service for multiple indiscipline cases,” he said.
“We have not recovered the missing body parts. We hope the suspect will lead us to them. The remains we recovered are at JM Memorial Hospital,” he said.
