Jane Wanjiru was full of hope as she attended a night vigil on December 31, 2024 to usher in the New Year.
What the 26-year-old did not imagine was that she would never live beyond the first day of 2025.
On January 1, Wanjiru was reported missing, with her husband, Patrick Waweru, being the last person seen with her.
As the days passed, the family endured a heart-wrenching 16-day search for answers.
The agony came to a tragic end when a body suspected to be that of Wanjiru was discovered on January 15 in a neighbour’s well, sending shockwaves across the Kianjue village in Mukurweini sub-County.
A farm worker had been hit by an unbearable smell before he encountered a business of flies around the well, leading to the discovery.
“The worker was cutting napier grass to prepare his land for irrigation farming, using water from the well, when he noticed the flies. He informed the owner of the farm, who later notified the area assistant chief," said Mr Sammy Maina, the deceased’s cousin.
The curious group found the body wrapped in a sack, confirming the worst fears of the family and residents of Kianjue village in Mukurweini that Wanjiru was murdered.
"The body was tied to stones and was badly decomposed. Therefore, we will conduct a DNA test to confirm if it is really Wanjiru's despite the family's confirmation," Mukurweini Sub County Police Commander Beatrice Nyaga said.
"The discovery shows the gruesome nature of the crime, indicating that the perpetrator took deliberate steps to commit the murder and hide the body."
The body was moved to Mukurweini sub-County Hospital mortuary pending a DNA analysis.
Wanjiru’s husband, who was the main suspect, went underground. He was eventually arrested in connection with the murder but later released due to lack of sufficient evidence.
"While authorities initially took action against her husband, there was no evidence to hold him at the time. However, with discovery of the body we have resumed search for him,” Ms Nyaga said.
Mr Maina, the cousin to the deceased, revealed events leading to Wanjiru’s disappearance.
“After the night vigil, Wanjiru and her husband went home together. They had just reconciled after separating for four months. It has now emerged that Waweru lured his wife to death with promise of blissful life after that night,” he said.
Mr Maina’s sentiments added another layer of complexity to the case, shedding light on the couple’s troubled relationship before Wanjiru’s tragic death.
The murder sparked anger, grief and shock among the residents who struggled to comprehend the loss of the young mother of four who had so much life ahead of her.
"The manner in which Jane's life was taken has left us all in pain and disbelief," said Peter Nyaga, village elder.
The owner of the well where the body was discovered, Ms Mary Wamuyu, also expressed sorrow. With tears rolling down her cheeks, Wamuyu said, "It is so scary for somebody just to do that kind of harm to his wife, the mother of his young children who will now live the rest of their lives agonising over why their mother died."
Her words echoed the sentiments of residents who called for justice and accountability for the crime.
On Saturday, the irate residents set Waweru’s house on fire, condemning the decision by the authorities to release him despite his initial arrest, even as family members said the suspect was abusive.
"He used to beat Wanjiru and they had separated many times. There was even a time when he beat her near her mother's home," said Kamaru Nyororo, a relative of the deceased.
"Despite their reconciliation, the ongoing tension in their marriage seems to have played a role in the tragic events that unfolded."
Ms Nyaga, the police boss, addressed the growing tensions, and urged members of the community to remain patient and to trust the authorities to bring the killer to book.
Area Member of Parliament John Kaguchia condemned the heinous act, expressing concern over the growing violence in the region. He noted that domestic abuse and violent crimes were fueled by drug abuse.
"Some of these crimes are caused by drug abuse and there is a need for action. I call for both stronger law enforcement and community intervention to curb increasing violence,” said Mr Kaguchia.
Wanjiru’s death adds to the growing list of women killed and murdered by their male lovers and partners.
According to media reports, at least 14 women have been killed this year in acts of gender-based violence, which the government said has been "rising."
Kenyan nonprofit Femicide Count, which keeps a tally of only reported incidents, reported at least 152 cases of femicide in Kenya in 2023. A significant portion of femicide victims were killed by men they knew and trusted, the lobby said.
According to a report from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, about 725 women and girls were murdered in Kenya in 2022 while Amnesty International says more than 500 cases of femicide were recorded in Kenya between the years 2016 and 2023.
mkimathi@ke.nationmedia.com
