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Nancy Njeru and Johannah Macharia, parents of Tabitha Wanjiru, a Grade 2 minor defiled and murdered on her way back from Ol Joro Orok Comprehensive school.
A grade two pupil in Nyandarua who went missing while on her way home from school was defiled and then strangled to death, a postmortem report has revealed.
Tabitha Wanjiru’s body was found dumped in a thicket, covered in her jacket and shrubs, in an apparent bid by her assailants to conceal it a few hours after she was reported missing.
Tabitha Wanjiru, a Grade 2 pupil defiled and murdered on her way back from school last Friday.
Police have stated that the young girls’ attackers appear to have known her very well, according to preliminary investigations.
“The postmortem has clearly stated that the girl was defiled and strangled by her assailants who appear to have wanted her death to conceal evidence as she knew them well to a level of their (attackers) gaining their trust,” Nyandarua County Police Commander Stella Cherono said.
Ms Cherono confirmed that so far, three suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident that has invited a round of condemnation from residents, the clergy and leaders.
“That the girl was subjected to a painful death in the hands of her abductors is heartbreaking. The matter is under active investigations and the suspects will be charged in court. We are appealing to members of the public with more information on the incident to volunteer it to the investigators,” Ms Cherono said.
Wanjiru, who was a pupil at Ol Joro Orok Primary School was discovered dumped in a farm a short distance from the school and her parents’ home.
Nancy Njeru, mother to Tabitha Wanjiru during an interview at her Ol Joro home, Nyandarua. Tabitha was defiled and murdered.
Family members and villagers who had been looking for the victim after she failed to get home from school stumbled on the body, in an incident that has caused shockwaves in the area.
Wanjiru, who was a pupil at Ol Joro Orok Primary school was discovered dumped in a farm a short distance from the school and her parents’ home.
Family members and villagers who had been looking for the victim after she failed to get home from school, stumbled on the body, in an incident that has caused shockwaves in the area.
Johannah Macharia, father to Tabitha Wanjiru, a Grade 2 minor defiled and murdered on her way back from Ol Joro Orok Comprehensive school.
Mr John Macharia, the girl’s father said the confirmation of defilement and murder following the postmortem report was heart wrenching and raises questions as to why an innocent child became a target to brutes operating in the area.
“Tabitha was last seen leaving school in the company of fellow learners at around 5 pm on January 28, 2026, but she did not arrive home. We reported the matter to the police and a search party combed the area leading to the discovery of the body” Mr Macharia said.
Mr Macharia said “It was unusual for her not to arrive home as it was known that she would directly walk home after classes with the other children from the neighbourhood”
The parents alerted the neighbours and the police following the unusual occurrence. As darkness approached, they searched for her in the area.
After hours of searching in the darkness, they found her body dumped in a bushy farm not far from her home.
Nancy Njeru and Johannah Macharia, parents of Tabitha Wanjiru, a Grade 2 minor defiled and murdered on her way back from Ol Joro Orok Comprehensive school.
Mr Machara who could not control his emotions as he described the scene where her daughter's body was recovered, expressed shock that her young and innocent child had been attacked and killed by brutes walking free in the area.
“My daughter’s body was covered by leaves in a thicket, and her jacket was also used to cover part of the lifeless body” Macharia stated adding that when he escorted his daughter out of the homestead, he did not know it would be the last he was seeing her alive.
Ms Joyce Njeri, mother to the victim, explained that she waited for her daughter at home, but all in vain.
“It was her father who normally welcomed her home, but since he was not at home, I decided to go look for her when she did not arrive on time” Ms Njeri said.
Her school mates could not explain how she disappeared in between the school and their home. They walked home together, but did not pay much attention to the direction she took or whom she made on the way home.
“I am in a lot of pain. Who is this who defiled and killed my daughter? Why kill the innocent girl? Why the heinous act against my daughter? She was very prayerful; she would always remind me that we need to pray before heading to bed” Ms Waweru revealed.
The case points to a surge in cases of child abuse, defilement and murder has been reported in Nyandarua county in what has raised concern among various stakeholders.
The minors, some as young as less than one year, are sexually assaulted, murdered and bodies dumped in dams, thickets, dumpsites and pit latrines.
In the last three weeks, at least three children have been defiled, one brutally murdered after the sex assault while the other two were left for death by the assailants, but rescued by residents and rushed to hospital.
Residents, the clergy and leaders have raised concerns over the diabolical acts in the areas and demanded arrest and prosecution of suspects, some of whom are enjoying their freedom and probably scouting for their next victims.
It comes less than two weeks after two other minors were repeatedly defiled and brutally attacked in the Kasuku area in the same constituency.
The two victims with various degrees of physical injuries and having suffered psychologically were admitted for days at JM Memorial Hospital where they were treated before being discharged.
Leaders and clergy condemned the rising cases of child abuse that have been on the rise in the county.
Nyandarua Woman Representative Faith Gitau lamented that the cases are on the rise and called on the police to hasten investigations relating to the attack, sexual abuse and murder of the children that is on the rise.
“It is heartbreaking that school-going children are being assaulted and even killed while still in their school uniforms—children should be safe on their way to and from school,” said Ms Gitau.
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