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Abandoned bag triggers panic after schoolgirl disappears on way home for Easter holiday

Saturday, April 04, 2026

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Joy Wanjiru, a Form three student at Kenya High School, was reported missing on April 1, 2026.

Photo credit: Pool

By Gitonga Marete

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What you need to know:

The Form Three student was reported missing in the evening of April 1, when she was expected to arrive home.
She was picked from school by her brother on Wednesday morning and dropped at the bus stage in Nairobi where she boarded a matatu.
A bag containing some of her belongings including books was found dumped near Karatina town.

A family in Nyeri County has been thrown into panic after their daughter went missing after schools were closed for the Easter holidays.

Joy Wanjiru, a Form Three student at Kenya High School, was reported missing in the evening of April 1, 2026 when she was expected to arrive home.

Her mother, Esther Gathigia said Joy was picked from school by her brother, Denis Muhoro on Wednesday morning and dropped at the bus stage in Nairobi where she boarded a matatu.

“When Denis picked her, he called and we spoke at length. Then as usual he escorted her to board a matatu but he first bought chips and they ate together,” Ms Gathigia said.

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However, the girl, 16, did not arrive at their home as expected and worried, Ms Gathigia went to the matatu’s Sacco booking office in Nyeri town to inquire.

“The driver is said to have told his colleagues that he dropped Joy at Skuta (about four kilometres from Nyeri town), but that was not the case,” she said.

She said the family is now worried over her safety after a bag containing some of her belongings including books was found dumped near Karatina town.

A section of Karatina town in Nyeri County.

Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group

On April 3, 2026, Kenya High School announced that the student was missing, and asked anyone with information regarding her whereabouts to report to the police.

“Joy was picked from the school at approximately 10am by her brother and later dropped at a matatu station 2NK sacco in the Nairobi CBD, where she boarded a vehicle to Nyeri. The matatu is reported to have departed Nairobi at around 11am,” said Rev Edith Koech, the Chief Principal.

Also Read: Body of missing Kakamega school principal found in river after five-day search

“According to available information, Joy was expected to alight at a stage just before Nyeri town. However, the driver reported that she alighted in Nyeri town instead. The school, in collaboration with the family and relevant authorities, is actively following up on this matter,” the chief principal added.

Ms Gathigia said even more worrying is that on Friday, the second bag containing her uniform was found in Karatina near the railway station.

“It’s very disturbing and we call upon the police to help us find my daughter. Where could she be? How come her bags were found yet there is no trace of her? I beg whoever knows where my daughter is to come out and tell us,” said the distraught mother of two.

Ms Gathigia said after reporting the matter to police in Nyeri, she was referred to Karatina police station where her daughter’s bags were taken.

Contacted for a comment, Mathira East sub county police boss Mr Samson Leweri said he would respond to our inquiries later.

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